Femtosecond pulse shaping using the geometric phase

Pulse shaping by spectral-domain polarization gratings

We consider the spectral-domain counterparts of spatial-domain polarization gratings and study their effect on the temporal evolution of femtosecond-scale light pulses. These devices divide an incident light pulse to several orders via spectral polarization modulation, permitting pulse splitting and shaping with controlled time-domain polarization dynamics.

Development of a novel multifocal lens using a polarization directed flat lens: possible candidate for a multifocal intraocular lens

BACKGROUND

A polarization-directed flat (PDF) lens acts as a converging lens with a focal length (f) > 0 and a diverging lens with f < 0, depending on the polarization state of the incidental light. To produce a multifocal lens with two focal lengths, a PDF and a converging lens having shorter focal length were combined. In this study, we tested a bifocal PDF to determine its potential as a new multifocal intraocular lens (IOL).

METHODS

Constructed a multifocal lens with a PDF lens (f = +/- 100 mm) and a converging lens (f = + 25 mm). In an optical bench test, we measured the defocus curve to test the multifocal function. The multifocal function and optical quality of the lens in various situations were tested. An Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart as a near target and a building as a distant target were photographed using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. Both lenses (multifocal and monofocal) were tested under the same conditions.

RESULTS

For the 0 D and - 20 D focal points, the multifocal lens showed sharp images in the optical bench test. In the DSLR test using the multifocal lens, the building appeared slightly blurry compared with the results using the monofocal lens. With the multifocal lens, the ETDRS chart's images became blurry as the ETDRS chart's distance decreased, but became very clear again at a certain position.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed the multifocal function of the multifocal lens using a PDF lens. This lens can be used as a multifocal IOL in the future.