Identification of ontogenetic age classes plays an important role in the fields of zoology, palaeontology and archaeology, where accurate age classifications of (sub)fossil remains are a crucial component for the reconstruction of past life. Textural ageing—the identification of age-related bone surface textures—provides a size-independent method for age assessment of vertebrate material. However, most of the work so far is limited to qualitative results. While qualitative approaches provide helpful insights on textural ageing patterns, they are heavily subject to observer bias and fall short of quantitative data relevant for detailed statistical analyses and cross-comparisons. Here, we present a pilot study on the application of 3D surface digital microscopy to quantify bone surface textures on the long bones of the grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and the Canada goose (Branta canadensis) using internationally verified roughness parameters. Using a standardised measuring protocol, computed roughness values show a strong correlation with qualitative descriptions of textural patterns. Overall, higher roughness values correspond to increased numbers of grooves and pits and vice versa. Most of the roughness parameters allowed distinguishing between different ontogenetic classes and closely followed the typical sigmoidal animal growth curve. Our results show that bone texture quantification is a feasible approach to identifying ontogenetic age classes.

A new method for fast, high resolution interrogation of an array of photonic sensors is proposed. The technique is based on the integrated Fourier transform (FT) interrogator previously introduced by the authors. Compared to other interferometric interrogators, the FT-interrogator is very compact and has an unprecedented tolerance to variations in the nominal values of the sensors’ resonance wavelength. In this paper, the output voltages of the interrogator are written as a polynomial function of complex variables whose modulus is unitary and whose argument encodes the resonance wavelength modulation of the photonic sensors. Two different methods are proposed to solve the system of polynomial equations. In both cases, the Gröbner basis of the polynomial ideal is computed using lexicographical monomial ordering, resulting in a system of polynomials whose complex variable contributions can be decoupled. Using an NVidia graphics processing card, the processing time for 1 026 000 systems of algebraic equations takes around 9 ms, which is more than two orders of magnitude faster than the interrogation method previously introduced by the authors. Such a performance allows for real time interrogation of high-speed sensors. Multiple solutions satisfy the algebraic system of equations, but, in general, only one of the solutions gives the actual resonance wavelength modulation of the sensors. Other solutions have been used for optimization, leading to a reduction in the cross-talk among the sensors. The dynamic strain resolution is 1.66 nε/√Hz.

In this paper, the design and the characterization of a novel interrogator based on integrated Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy is presented. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first integrated FT spectrometer used for the interrogation of photonic sensors. It consists of a planar spatial heterodyne spectrometer, which is implemented using an array of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs) with different optical path differences. Each MZI employs a 3_3 multi-mode interferometer, allowing the retrieval of the complex Fourier coefficients. We derive a system of non-linear equations whose solution, which is obtained numerically from Newton's method, gives the modulation of the sensor's resonances as a function of time. By taking one of the sensors as a reference, to which no external excitation is applied and its temperature is kept constant, about 92% of the thermal induced phase drift of the integrated MZIs has been compensated. The minimum modulation amplitude that is obtained experimentally is 400 fm, which is more than two orders of magnitude smaller than the FT spectrometer resolution.

The Optics Group of Delft University of Technology plays a major role in teaching optics to bachelor and master students. In addition, the group has a long record of introducing, demonstrating and teaching optics to quite diverse groups of people from outside of the university. We will describe some of these activities and focus on a recently started project funded by the European Commission called Phablabs 4.0, which aims to bring photonics to European Fab labs.