Focus on Software

The descriptions of the new products listed in this section are based on information supplied to us by the manufacturers. Physics Today can assume no responsibility for their accuracy. To facilitate inquiries about a particular product, a Reader Service Card is attached inside the back cover of the magazine.

Bibliographic management software

ISI ResearchSoft has introduced WriteNote, a Web-based bibliographic solution designed specifically for students in universities, colleges, and secondary schools. An annual sitewide license subscription to the institution offers benefits to many on campus: Students collect references and cite them in papers and librarians direct students to the school’s subscription content and introduce them to the library resources, including Gale, WilsonWeb, and OCLC. Professors and educators reinforce the principles of citing sources, deans and administrators maximize the value of online resources and improve students’ paper-writing skills, and information technology managers save time with a Web-based tool hosted by ISI ResearchSoft. Thomson ISI ResearchSoft, 2141 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 350, Carlsbad, California 92009, http://www.isiresearchsoft.com

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Statistics software

CoHort Software has released CoStat version 6.2, a program for data manipulation and statistical analysis. CoStat offers spreadsheets with any number of columns and rows and can contain different types of data. The program can import data from many types of data files, manipulate the data (transforming it, rearranging it, and so on), and automate repetitive tasks with macros. CoStat can analyze the data with a wide range of statistical procedures, such as multiple comparisons of means, analysis of frequency data, miscellaneous tests of hypotheses, nonparametric tests, curve fitting, and new subset selections in multiple regression. CoStat version 6.2 is available in three forms: a standalone version of CoStat, and CoPlot and CoPlot Pro, which both have advanced multiple regression routines. CoHort Software, 798 Lighthouse Avenue, PMB 320, Monterey, California 93940, http://www.cohort.com

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Image acquisition and processing

The MathWorks has launched Image Acquisition Toolbox 1.0 and Image Processing Toolbox 4.0. Based on the company’s MATLAB, the toolboxes provide a solution for imaging applications that combines a direct interface to industry standard frame grabbers and video devices with advanced image processing applications. Imaging Acquisition Toolbox allows users to connect to and configure hardware, preview video, and stream images directly into MATLAB for analysis and visualization. Image Processing Toolbox not only increases the speed of some performance-enhanced image processing functions by more than a factor of 20, but enables a reduction in memory usage for several of those functions by 15–100%. The Mathworks Inc, 3 Apple Hill Drive, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, http://www.mathworks.com

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Mathematics education testing and assessment

Maplesoft has announced Maple T.A. 1.2, the latest version of the infrastructure solution that features a complete Web-based environment for creating, administering, and grading placement or gateway tests, formal examinations, quizzes, and homework assignments. Maple T.A. grades assignments using the company’s Maple math engine—software for exploring mathematics and developing mathematical applications. The new product is said to free schools from the cost, effort, and limitations of traditional paper-and-pencil assessments. It allows easy randomization of questions and lets instructors include free-form math questions that extend far beyond traditional multiple-choice or true—false format, even when there are thousands of students in a class. Maplesoft, 57 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 6C2, http://www.maplesoft.com

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Optical character recognition

OCR Software by National Instruments is a PC-based optical character recognition software designed for machine vision application developers; it is an add-on package to the company’s Vision Development Module. NI OCR can be trained to read different types of fonts and symbols, including OCR A, OCR B, and SEMI font, that are created by character stamping, laser etching, inkjet printing, and thermal transfer. The software also handles both color images and grayscale images. NI OCR’s segmentation routine can distinguish between individual characters even under difficult imaging conditions. The software uses parameters for maximum and minimum height and width and offers horizontal and vertical spacing options. Using NI OCR, one can detect characters that are rotated or changed in scale. National Instruments, 11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, Texas 78759-3504, http://www.ni.com

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Math word processor

MathType 5 for Windows from Design Science adds many new features to the company’s MathType software, known for its easy-to-use graphical interface, automatic formatting, and a comprehensive collection—more than 500—of math symbols and templates. One of the new features is the company’s MathPage technology, which converts Microsoft Word documents into Web pages that display equations as GIF images or MathML. Other features include support for Microsoft Office XP and Microsoft Windows XP, the ability to transfer add/delete rows and columns to a matrix, and provisions for unlimited undo and redo and a reset size command. MathType 5 also offers improvements on the translators that convert equations to MathML, TeX, and LaTex and on the conversions of equations between MathType and MathML. Design Science Inc, 4028 Broadway, Long Beach, California 90803, http://www.dessci.com

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Statistical analysis and data presentation

Poly Software International has announced ProStat version 3, which adds more than 100 enhancements and new features to the company’s ProStat software for use in numerical analysis and data presentation. This new version offers enhanced program installation and a drag-and-drop operation with automatic file type detection; a speed menu that holds the most recently opened files for fast file access; the ability to save the last active folder information for fast data retrieval; and a new data interpolation method (Stineman interpolation). The software also provides an expanded user-defined regression model with up to 50 equations, 50 variables, and 50 parameters; a complex Fourier transform; a new graphics object management and legend editor; and a number of advanced plot view features. Poly Software International, P.O. Box 60, Pearl River, New York 10965, http://www.polysoftware.com

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Neural network models

Wolfram Research has released the new Neural Networks applications package designed to give students and advanced users the tools to train, visualize, and validate neural network models using the computational power and flexibility of the company’s Mathematica. The new software implements state-of-the-art training algorithms and enables a user to fit the network to data, visualize the fitted network, and view the distribution of errors with only a few commands. It also includes special functions to address typical problems in data analysis, such as function approximation, classification, and detection, clustering, nonlinear time series, and nonlinear system identification problems. Neural Networks is designed for use with Mathematica version 4 or later. Wolfram Research Inc, 100 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, Illinois 61820-7237, http://www.wolfram.com

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Nonlinear curve fitting

PeakFit version 4.11 from Systat Software is automated peak separation and analysis software that incorporates nonlinear curve-fitting techniques to accurately detect, separate, and quantify overlapping and hidden peaks so that even the most obscure patterns in the data can be found. PeakFit provides the user with three different procedures to automatically characterize the normal and hidden peaks and offers data-smoothing and manipulation techniques that accurately process and allow for noise reduction while maintaining the integrity of the original data stream. With PeakFit’s visual FFT filter, the user can inspect a data stream in the time domain and zero higher-frequency points This software is designed to support research applications, including spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrophoresis. Systat Software Inc, 501 Suite C, Point Richmond Tech Center, Canal Boulevard, Richmond, California 94804-2028, http://www.systat.com

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Microscope control software

FEI’s xT Microscope Control version 2.0 is an upgrade for the 1.0x and 1.5x version software currently controlling FEI’s Quanta series of environmental scanning electron microscopes. The new features offered by this software include digital video acquisition in movie format and a Movie Creator for sequencing a series of TIF files to an AVI format. Other added features include manual user interface support and user management support. An example of improved user-friendliness is that live images can now be dragged, zoomed, and centered. Furthermore, images of the specimen holder can be used in the stage map for easier navigation. Users can operate the stage without rotation and disable the touch alarm if required. Snapshots have their own preset scanning speeds. FEI Company, 7451 NW Evergreen Parkway, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124, http://www.feicompany.com

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Aspheric focusing lenses

Optical Surfaces Ltd is able to produce, from high-quality optical glass or silica substrates, aspheric focusing lenses up to f 2.5 with diffraction-limited performance. These lenses can be manufactured to have ultrasmooth slope errors, surface finish to 20/10 scratch/dig, surface microroughness typically of the order of 1 nm rms, and in a choice of sizes up to 300 mm o.d. Aspheric lenses are crucial for applications such as lidar research and laser launch telescopes, where a laser beam has to be precisely projected to a far object. A range of high-power laser coatings, including those at wavelengths of 249, 527, 1053, and 1550 nm, can be provided to maintain high transmission through the aspheric lenses and enable them to operate even at the ultra-high-energy thresholds of terawatt lasers. Optical Surfaces Ltd, Godstone Road, Kenley, Surrey, England CR8 5AA, http://www.optisurf.com

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193-nm optics

Alpine Research Optics (ARO) offers a series of 193-nm optics designed and fabricated to deliver long lifetime and high damage thresholds when used with high-fluence, high-repetition-rate excimer lasers. The calcium fluoride and UV fused silica components include mirrors, partial reflectors, and windows for both 0° and 45° operation, and a range of spherical and cylindrical lenses. The spherical lenses and windows are available in diameters up to 75 mm; the spherical lenses can be supplied with radius of curvature between 0.05 and 10 m. Cylindrical lenses are offered with radius of curvature between 0.05 and 10 m and can be produced in lengths of up to 75 mm. ARO grinds, polishes, and coats the components in a manner that ensures longevity and damage resistance at the deep-UV wavelengths. Alpine Research Optics, 3180 Sterling Circle, Suite 101, Boulder, Colorado 80301, http://www.arocorp.com

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Digital camera systems

Leica Microsystems has introduced the new DC 300 FX and DC 350 FX digital camera systems. The DC 300 FX is a 1.4-megapixel cooled color model; the DC 350 FX is a 1.4-megapixel cooled monochrome camera that offers NIR sensitivity for analysis and quantification. Both models offer 12 bits per color (RGB) for precise image replication and incorporate the latest advances in CCD sensor design. The Leica DC FX series provides quantitative cameras for users involved with live-cell fluorescence. Quantum efficiency in excess of 50% from 400 to 750 nm enables faster exposure times and greater sensitivity. A new thermoelectric cooling system has been incorporated to offer exposure times of up to 600 s with increased dynamic range while minimizing thermal background noise. Leica Microsystems Inc, 2345 Waukegan Road, Bannockburn, Illinois 60015 http://www.leica-microsystems.com

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Rotary encoders

New model RESR rotary encoders from Renishaw are noncontact optical encoders with a low-mass, low-inertia design that provides accuracy to ±0.5 arcsecond, up to 129.6 million counts per revolution, and speeds to more than 2900 rpm with zero backlash. The RESR models come in a wide range of diameters and line-count options—degrees, arcseconds and 2ⁿ—and are available with digital quadrature outputs providing resolutions from 0.01 to 27 arcseconds. Sized for shafts from 30 to 392 mm o.d., the encoders provide line counts from 4096 to 64 800 with up to 2000 × interpolation. The RESR one-piece design features a low-profile ring with integral scale and large through-hole. Optional models are available with UHV, nonmagnetic, and ultralow inertia capabilities. Renishaw Inc, 5277 Trillium Boulevard, Hoffman Estates, Illinois 60192, http://www.renishaw.com

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New literature

Keithley Instruments has released its 400-page, full-color 2003 Test and Measurement Products Catalog. This publication provides detailed information and specifications on a wide range of instruments together with more than a dozen new products in the data acquisition, electrical testing, semiconductor, and optoelectronics areas. Keithley Instruments Inc, 28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44139-1891, http://www.keithley.com

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A new 128-page four-color catalog 2003 Laser Measurement Instruments, is available from Ophir Optronics. Together with product descriptions the catalog features helpful selection guides detailed charts and a tutorial on laser power and energy measurements. Ophir Optronics Inc 260-A Fordham Road Wilmington Massachusetts 01887 http://www.ophiropt.com

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