Response analysis of holography-based modal wavefront sensor

The crosstalk problem of holography-based modal wavefront sensing (HMWS) becomes more severe with increasing aberration. In this paper, crosstalk effects on the sensor response are analyzed statistically for typical aberrations due to atmospheric turbulence. For specific turbulence strength, we optimized the sensor by adjusting the detector radius and the encoded phase bias for each Zernike mode. Calibrated response curves of low-order Zernike modes were further utilized to improve the sensor accuracy. The simulation results validated our strategy. The number of iterations for obtaining a residual RMS wavefront error of 0.1λ is reduced from 18 to 3.

Digital holography of self-luminous objects by using a Mach-Zehnder setup

We describe a method where the wavefront emitted by a self-luminous object is superimposed to its filtered counterpart by using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The amplitude and phase of the resulting interference pattern is used for digital three-dimensional imaging. Experimental results are presented.

Single-layer resonant-waveguide grating for polarization and wavelength selection in Yb:YAG thin-disk lasers

A single-layer resonant-waveguide grating consisting of a sub-wavelength grating coupler etched into a waveguide is proposed in order to achieve high polarization and high spectral selectivity inside an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser resonator. The designed structure was fabricated with the help of a Lloyd's-mirror interference lithography setup followed by reactive ion beam etching down to the desired grating groove depth. The wavelength and polarization dependent reflectivity is measured and compared to the design results. The behaviour of the device at higher temperatures is also investigated in the present work. The device is introduced as the end mirror of an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser cavity. Output powers of up to 123 W with a spectral bandwidth of about 0.5 nm (FWHM) is demonstrated in a multimode configuration (M2~6). In fundamental-mode operation (TEM00 with M2~1.1) 70 W of power with a spectral bandwidth of about 20 pm have been obtained. Moreover, the degree of linear polarization was measured to be higher than 99% for both multimode and fundamental mode operation.

High-resolution quantitative phase microscopic imaging in deep UV with phase retrieval

High-resolution three-dimensional (3D) microscopic imaging requires the use of short wavelengths. Quantitative 3D imaging techniques, such as digital holographic microscopy, require interference between the object beam and a known reference background for the extraction of phase information. At shorter wavelengths, due to short coherence lengths, it may be difficult to implement a two-beam off-axis setup. Thus, a single-beam technique, which provides complete phase information, may be better suited for short wavelengths. This Letter describes the development of a quantitative microscopy technique at 193 nm using multiple intensity samplings and phase retrieval.

Laser direct writing of rotationally symmetric high-resolution structures

We present a laser direct writing system for the efficient fabrication of high-resolution axicon structures. The setup makes use of scanning beam interference lithography incorporated with a fringe locking scheme for tight fringe phase control and allows us to fabricate large area structures with a period down to 450 nm.

About the influence of Line Edge Roughness on measured effective-CD

Various reports state that Line Edge/Width Roughness (LER/LWR) has a significant impact on the integrated circuits fabricated by means of lithography, hence there is a need to determine the LER in-line so that it never exceeds certain specified limits. In our work we deal with the challenge of measuring LER on 50 nm resist gratings using scatterometry. We show by simulation that there is a difference between LER and no-LER scatter signatures which first: depends on the polarization and second: is proportional to the amount of LER. Moreover, we show that the mentioned difference is very specific, that is - a grating with LER acts like a grating without LER but showing another width (CD, Critical Dimension), which we refer-to as effective-CD.

Diffractive incremental and absolute coding principle for optical rotary sensors

Rotary sensors are an essential component in numerous applications where a rotation movement has to be detected. With optical encoders, a high angular resolution can be achieved. As a disadvantage, the resolution enhancement is associated with increasing cost. To overcome this issue, a coding principle is presented that uses a diffractive solid measure on a microstructured plastic disc. Like a DVD, this encoder disc can be manufactured in a cost effective injection molding process. For this approach, a differential incremental code, as well as an absolute code, has been developed.

Laterally chromatically dispersed, spectrally encoded interferometer

We present a single-shot line sensor based on spectral interferometry. Light of a broadband laser source is chromatically dispersed by a grating and focused onto a line on the surface such that each focal point on this line is formed by another wavelength. The entire height profile is obtained by applying a phase evaluation algorithm to the registered interference signal, followed by a model-based approach. The sensor concept is finally verified by experimental results.

An absolute test for axicon surfaces

We present a method for absolute testing of axicon surfaces in a null test setup. The absolute test exploits the symmetry of axicons, which allows us to introduce a shift of the surface under test in both the axial and rotational directions while still maintaining the null test condition. With two shifts of the surface under test and four measurements, the interferometer and null optics error can be removed. The absolute surface local deviation can be obtained by wavefront reconstruction with a double-side spiral-path direct integration method. A simulation of the method, including typical systematic as well as statistical errors as input, is presented to estimate the error propagation. Experimental absolute test results of a 90° axicon surface are given.

Phase retrieval by pinhole scanning

We describe a method where phase and amplitude of a wavefront are obtained by processing a sequence of pattern produced by the interference between the light transmitted by a scanning pinhole (which is sequentially shifted) and a reference pinhole. Simulations and experimental results are presented.

High-power radially polarized Yb:YAG thin-disk laser with high efficiency

Radially polarized beams with an output power of 275 W, M2=2.3 and an efficiency of about 52.5% were generated from an Yb:YAG thin-disk laser. An intra-cavity circular resonant waveguide grating was used as a polarization selective mirror inside the laser cavity. We report on the design and the fabrication using a scanning beam interference lithography system and discuss the calculated and measured performances of the presented polarizing grating mirrors.

Resolution improvement in digital holography by angular and polarization multiplexing

Angular and polarization multiplexing techniques are utilized in both object and reference arms in the digital holographic microscopy system to improve its resolution. The angular multiplexing provides on-axis and off-axis illumination and reference beams with different carrier frequencies. Polarization multiplexing prohibits the occurrence of interference between low and high object spatial frequencies and reference beams. The proposed system does not require special light sources or filtering masks. Experimental results show that the resolution of the synthesized image exceeds the resolution determined by the numerical aperture of the imaging microscope objective.

Design of high-transmission metallic meander stacks with different grating periodicities for subwavelength-imaging applications

When replacing a bulk negative index material (NIM) with two resonant surfaces that allow for surface plasmon polariton (SPP) propagation it is possible to recreate the same near-field imaging effects as with Pendry's perfect lens. We show that a metallic meander structure is perfectly suited as such a resonant surface due to the tunability of the short (SRSPP) and long range surface plasmon (LRSPP) frequencies by means of geometrical variation. Furthermore, the Fano-type pass band between the SRSPP and LRSPP frequencies of a single meander sheet retains its dominant role when being stacked. Hence, the pass band frequency position, which is determined by the meander geometry, controls also the pass band of a meander stack. When building up stacks with different periodicities the pass band shifts in frequency for each sheet in a different way. We rigorously calculate the spectra of various meander designs and show that this shift can be compensated by changing the remaining geometrical parameters of each single sheet. We also present a basic idea how high- transmission stacks with different periodicities can be created to enable energy transfer at low loss over practically arbitrary distances inside such a stack. The possibility to stack meander sheets of varying periodicity might be the key to far field superlenses since a controlled transformation of evanescent modes to traveling wave modes of higher diffraction order could be enabled.

Combination of scene-based and stochastic measurement for wide-field aberration correction in microscopic imaging

We report on a novel aberration correction technique that uses the sequential combination of two different aberration measurement methods to correct for setup-induced and specimen-induced aberrations. The advantages of both methods are combined and, thus, the measurement time is strongly reduced without loss of accuracy. The technique is implemented using a spatial-light-modulator-based wide-field microscope without the need for additional components (e.g., a Shack-Hartmann sensor). The aberrations are measured without a reference object by directly using the specimen to be imaged. We demonstrate experimental results for technical as well as biological specimens.

Light fields with an axially expanded intensity distribution for stable three-dimensional optical trapping

We introduce a new kind of light field to improve and simplify the trapping process of axially displaced particles. To this end we employ a light field with an axially expanded intensity distribution, which at the same time enables stable axial trapping. We present simulations of the axial intensity distribution of the novel trapping field and first experimental results, which demonstrate the improvement of the reliability of the axial trapping process. The method can be used to automate trapping of particles that are located outside of the focal plane of the microscope.

Dynamic holography using pixelated light modulators

Dynamic holography using spatial light modulators is a very flexible technique that offers various new applications compared to static holography. We give an overview on the technical background of dynamic holography focusing on pixelated spatial light modulators and their technical restrictions, and we present a selection of the numerous applications of dynamic holography.

Nanoscale imaging using deep ultraviolet digital holographic microscopy

A deep ultraviolet off-axis digital holographic microscope (DHM) is presented. The microscope has been arranged with as least as possible optical elements in the imaging path to avoid aberration due to the non-perfect optical elements. A high resolution approach has been implemented in the setup using oblique illumination to overcome the limitation introduced by the optical system. To examine the resolution of the system a nano-structured template has been designed and the result confirms the submicron and nanoscale resolution of the arranged DHM setup.

Phase microscopy of technical and biological samples through random phase modulation with a diffuser

A technique for phase microscopy using a phase diffuser and a reconstruction algorithm is proposed. A magnified specimen wavefront is projected on the diffuser plane that modulates the wavefront into a speckle field. The speckle patterns at axially displaced planes are sampled and used in an iterative phase retrieval algorithm based on a wave-propagation equation. The technique offers a whole-field and high-resolution wavefront reconstruction of unstained microstructures. Phase maps of photoresist targets and human cheek cells are obtained to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.

Strategy for cryptanalysis of optical encryption in the Fresnel domain

Traditionally, cryptanalysis of optical security systems attempts to find original keys. Usually, by use of this kind of method, one can find a set of keys located close to the original keys in the key space. We call such a set the region of original key (ROK). For an optical encryption system in the Fresnel domain, such a strategy is ineffective since it needs to perform an exhaustive search to determine the system geometry or to solve an extremely large set of system equations. We propose to employ an alternative search strategy: to find a region of possible key (RPK). Since there is only one ROK for a cypher system but there are many RPKs, the probability to find a key in the RPK would be higher than in the ROK. Our analysis reveals that even a Fresnel-based encryption system has larger key space, but there are also serious security problems to be resolved.