Generating a twisted Gaussian Schell-model beam with a coherent-mode superposition

Author(s):

Zhang, Yue; Zhang, Xuan; Wang, Haiyun; Ye, Yan; Liu, Lin; Chen, Yahong; Wang, Fei & Cai, Yangjian

Abstract:

“Twist phase is a nontrivial second-order phase that only exists in a partially coherent field, providing a new degree of freedom for manipulating statistical properties of random light. However, in the existing experimental methods either it is difficult to control the twist phase or requires a large number of pseudo/random modes to approximately synthesize the twisted beams. In this work, we demonstrate a simple and efficient approach, based on the superposition of mutually orthogonal Laguerre-Gaussian modes with appropriate mode weights, to generate the twisted beams with a controllable twist phase. We show that a smaller number of modes are required to synthesize the twisted beams, compared to the pseudo-mode superposition, because the orthogonal coherent modes are used in the present method. We experimentally generate the twisted Gaussian Schell-model beams with controllable strength of twist phase and measure their degree of coherence and average intensity behavior during propagation. The experimental results agree well with the theoretical predictions. Our approach will promote the application of the twisted partially coherent beams in optical imaging and free-space optical communications.”

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Publication: Optics Express
Issue/Year: Optics Express, Volume 29; Number 25; Pages 41964; 2021
DOI: 10.1364/oe.446160

An active coronagraph using a liquid crystal array for exoplanet imaging: principle and testing

Author(s): Xi Zhang, De-Qing Ren, Yong-Tian Zhu and Jiang-Pei Dou.

Abstract:

“High-contrast imaging coronagraphs, used for the detection of exoplanets, have always adopted passive coronagraph optical components. It is therefore impossible to actively optimize the coronagraphs to achieve their best performance. To solve this problem, we propose a novel high-contrast imaging coronagraph which combines a liquid crystal array (LCA) for active pupil apodization and a deformable mirror (DM) for phase correction. The LCA we use is an amplitude-only spatial light modulator. The LCA is well calibrated and compensates for its amplitude non-uniformity and nonlinear intensity responsivity. We measured the imaging contrasts of the coronagraph system with the LCA only and without the DM deployed. Imaging contrasts of 10-4 and 10-5 can be reached at an inner working angular distance of 2.5 and 5λ/D, respectively. A simulation shows that the phase errors on the coronagraph pupil limit the contrast performance. The contrast could be further improved if a DM is deployed to correct the phase errors induced by the LCA and coronagraph optics.”

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Publication: Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, (subscription required)
Issue/Year: Res. Astron. Astrophys., Vol. 12, Issue 5,(2012)
DOI: 10.1088/1674-4527/12/5/011

Binocular adaptive optics vision analyzer with full control over the complex pupil functions

Author(s): Christina Schwarz, Pedro M. Prieto, Enrique J. Fernández, and Pablo Artal

Abstract:

“We present a binocular adaptive optics vision analyzer fully capable of controlling both amplitude and phase of the two complex pupil functions in each eye of the subject. A special feature of the instrument is its comparatively simple setup. A single reflective liquid crystal on silicon spatial light modulator working in pure phase modulation generates the phase profiles for both pupils simultaneously. In addition, another liquid crystal spatial light modulator working in transmission operates in pure intensity modulation to produce a large variety of pupil masks for each eye. Subjects perform visual tasks through any predefined variations of the complex pupil function for both eyes. As an example of the system efficiency, we recorded images of the stimuli through the system as they were projected at the subject’s retina. This instrument proves to be extremely versatile for designing and testing novel ophthalmic elements and simulating visual outcomes, as well as for further research of binocular vision.”

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Publication: Optics Letters
Issue/Year: Optics Letters, Vol. 36, Issue 24, pp. 4779-4781 (2011)
DOI: 10.1364/OL.36.004779

Generation of Optical Vortices by Linear Phase Ramps

Author(s): Sunil Vyas

Abstract:

“Generation of optical vortices using linear phase ramps is experimentally demonstrated. When two regions of a wavefront have opposite phase gradients then along the line of phase discontinuity vortices can be generated. It is shown that vortices can evolve during propagation even with the unequal magnitude of tilt in the two regions of the wavefront. The number of vortices and their location depend upon the magnitude of tilt. vortex generation is experimentally realized by encoding phase mask on spatial light modulator and their presence is detected interferometrically. Numerical simulation has been performed to calculate the diffracted intensity distribution from the phase mask, and presence of vortices in the diffracted field is detected by computational techniques.”

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Publication: International Journal of Optics
Issue/Year: International Journal of Optics, Volume 2012, Article ID 794259, 6 pages, (2012)
DOI: 10.1155/2012/794259

Binary-Phase Spatial Light Filters for Mode-Selective Excitation of Multimode Fibers

Author(s): Stepniak, G.; Maksymiuk, L.; Siuzdak, J.;

Abstract:

“In this paper, spatial light modulation is proposed to increase the transmission capacity of graded-index multimode fibers. In the method, selected linearly polarized eigenmodes of the fiber are excited using simple binary-phase spatial filters. Numerical results indicate that the selectivity of the method is very high, also for fibers with perturbed profiles. The excess attenuation of the method is very low. In the experiment, a threefold increase of fiber bandwidth for several filters is obtained.”

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Publication: Journal of Lightwave Technology
Issue/Year: Journal of Lightwave Technology, Volume: 29 Issue: 13, P.1980 – 1987 (2011)
DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2011.2155621

Dynamic space shaping of intense ultrashort laser light with blazed-type gratings

Author(s): I. Marienko, V. Denisenko, V Slusar, and M. Soskin

Abstract:

“A beam shaper for dynamic transversal shaping of broadband laser pulses that utilizes a blazed ruled grating and a blazed-type grating simulated on Spatial Light Modulator was demonstrated. The introduced shaper scheme is an extension of 2f-2f scheme [Mariyenko, et al., Opt. Express 13, 7599 (2005)] where the two thin holograms with matched grating constants performed light shaping. The new scheme utilizes the diffraction gratings with different grating constants. Dispersion-free light shaping is achieved by means of the intermediate transversal light beam magnification. The magnification balances the mismatch in the grating constants resulting in total residual angular dispersion compensation. In turn, the magnified beam covers a greater area on the modulator matrix thus reducing the incident light power density by a value equal to square of the magnification factor. It translates to the safe-operation threshold extension of the modulator allowing shaping pulses that are powerful enough to be used in the applications. With a proper components selection, the throughput efficiency of the shaper can be well above 40%. A proper shaper operation was demonstrated with the 140-fs Ti:Sapphire oscillator. Theoretical calculations support the conclusions.”

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Publication: Optics Express
Issue/Year: Optics Express, Vol. 18, Issue 24, pp. 25143-25150 (2010)
DOI: 10.1364/OE.18.025143

Increasing multimode fiber transmission capacity by mode selective spatial light phase modulation

Author(s): Stepniak, G.; Maksymiuk, L.; Siuzdak, J.;

Abstract:

“We propose spatial light modulation with binary phase filters to increase the transmission bandwidth of multimode fibers. In the experiment more than 300 % of bandwidth enhancement is obtained.”

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Publication: ECOC Proceedings
Issue/Year: 36th European Conference and Exhibition on Optical Communication (ECOC), 2010
DOI: 10.1109/ECOC.2010.5621465

A portable laser photostimulation and imaging microscope

Author(s): Volodymyr Nikolenko , Darcy S Peterka, Rafael Yuste

Abstract:

“We describe a compact microscope that uses a spatial light modulator (SLM) to control the excitation laser light. The flexibility of SLMs, which can mimic virtually any optical transfer function, enables the experimenter to create, in software, arbitrary spatio-temporal light patterns, including focusing and beam scanning, simply by calculating the appropriate phase mask. Our prototype, a scan-less device with no moving parts, can be used for laser imaging or photostimulation, supplanting the need for an elaborate optical setup. As a proof of principle, we generate complex excitation patterns on fluorescent samples and also perform functional imaging of neuronal activity in living brain slices.”

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Publication: Journal of Neural Engineering
Issue/Year: J. Neural Eng., Volume 7, Number 4 (2010) 045001
DOI: 10.1088/1741-2560/7/4/045001

Spatial light modulator as a reconfigurable intracavity dispersive element for tunable lasers

Author(s): Lin Dong, Sergei Popov, Sergey Sergeyev and Ari T. Friberg

Abstract:

“An improved approach for narrow-band wavelength selection in tunable lasers is described. To provide the tunability, a reconfigurable diffractive optical element (DOE) based on a programmable spatial light modulator (PSLM) is applied. With a proper choice of the phase transfer function of the PSLM, the device can be used as a dispersive intra-cavity component for precise tuning within the lasing spectral band of a solid-state dye laser. The suggested design allows avoiding the mechanical movement of any cavity components. The tunability performance and simulation are demonstrated using the Fourier optics method. ”

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Publication: Central European Journal of Physics
Issue/Year: Central European Journal of Physics, Volume 8, Number 2, 228-234, (2009)
DOI: 10.2478/s11534-009-0151-4

Superhydrophobic surface structures in thermoplastic polymers by interference lithography and thermal imprinting

Author(s): Christian W.J. Berendsen, Marek Škereň, David Najdek and František Cerný

Abstract:

“We present a method to produce superhydrophobic surfaces in thermoplastic polymer substrates. The method involves the creation of a nickel stamp using a customized laser interference lithography technique and electroplating processes. This stamp is used to emboss sub-micrometer periodic structures into the thermoplastic. The modified surface is coated with a hydrophobic plasma-polymerized hexafluoropropene layer. Surfaces with different periodicity and relief depth were created. On the surface with the highest aspect ratio, advancing water contact angles of 167° were measured with a water contact angle hysteresis of below 5°.”

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Publication: Applied Surface Science
Issue/Year: Applied Surface Science, Volume 255, Issue 23, 15 September 2009, Pages 9305-9310
DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2009.07.001
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