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The EXOplanet high resolution SPECtrograph (EXOhSPEC) instrument is an echelle spectrograph dedicated to the detection of exoplanets by using the radial velocity method using 2m class telescopes. This spectrograph is specified to provide spectra with a spectral resolution R < 70, 000 over the spectral range from 400 to 700 nm and to reach a shortterm radial velocity precision of 3 m/s. To achieve this the separation between two adjacent spectral orders is specified to be greater than 30 pixels and to enable a wide range of targets the throughput of the instrument is specified to be higher than 4%. We present the results of the optimization of the spectrograph collimator performed and initial tests of its optical performance. First, we consider the spectrograph design and we estimate its theoretical performance. We show that the theoretical image quality is close to the diffraction limit. Second, we describe the method used to perform the tolerancing analyzes using ZEMAX software to estimate the optical performance of the instrument after manufacturing, assembly and alignment. We present the results of the performance budget and we show that the estimated image quality performance of EXOhSPEC are in line with the specifications. Third, we present the results of the stray light analysis and we show that the minimum ratio between the scientific signal and the stray light halo signal is higher than 1,000. Finally, we provide a status on the progress of the EXOhSPEC project and we show the first results obtained with a preliminary version of the prototype.

In this paper we propose a modern technique to evaluate the shape changes of solder paste by using double-view in-line digital holography. We observed the transformation of three different kinds of solder paste composition: pure solder paste, solder paste mixed with 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.10% graphene (GPN) and 0.02%, 0.05%, 0.10% graphene oxide (GPNO), respectively. The shape of the solder pastes was investigated at different melt temperatures (i.e. 200°C, 250°C, and 300°C) for 30 seconds using a collimated beam propagating through the solder paste, then being double reflected on a mirror and second incident on another sides of the solder paste. The double images bearing beams were recorded with a CCD sensor simultaneously. The single recorded digital hologram from double view technique was reconstructed using digital holography. The results show that the double-view technique provides reliably data. Moreover, it would be developed for observing more than two images by single holography writing in the future.

This article proposes and shows that a low-optical-power laser when arranged in a zigzag fashion in a free space can create strong air thermal stress and form a chemical-free optical net that is capable of repelling adult mosquitoes away. Experimental proof of concept using a pointer-like diode-pump solid-state laser (447 nm wavelength and 500 mW maximum) and reflective sheets shows that all 80 adult Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are completely trapped inside the open glass chamber. Most of the adult mosquitoes prefer to stay near the bottom of the open glass chamber as it is cooler than the top part that contains several zigzagging laser beams. Reducing air thermal stress via increasing the spacing between the two adjacent laser beams allows the adult mosquitoes to easily escape out of the zone of the laser beams.