Silicon-Lattice-Matched Boron-Doped Gallium Phosphide: A Scalable Acousto-Optic Platform

The compact size, scalability, and strongly confined fields in integrated photonic devices enable new functionalities in photonic networking and information processing, both classical and quantum. Gallium phosphide (GaP) is a promising material for active integrated photonics due to its high refractive index, wide bandgap, strong nonlinear properties, and large acousto-optic figure of merit. This study demonstrates that silicon-lattice-matched boron-doped GaP (BGaP), grown at the 12-inch wafer scale, provides similar functionalities as GaP. BGaP optical resonators exhibit intrinsic quality factors exceeding 25,000 and 200,000 at visible and telecom wavelengths, respectively. It further demonstrates the electromechanical generation of low-loss acoustic waves and an integrated acousto-optic (AO) modulator. High-resolution spatial and compositional mapping, combined with ab initio calculations, indicate two candidates for the excess optical loss in the visible band: the silicon-GaP interface and boron dimers. These results demonstrate the promise of the BGaP material platform for the development of scalable AO technologies at telecom and provide potential pathways toward higher performance at shorter wavelengths.

Scan-less microscopy based on acousto-optic encoded illumination

Several optical microscopy methods are now available for characterizing scientific and industrial processes at sub-micron resolution. However, they are often ill-suited for imaging rapid events. Limited by the trade-off between camera frame-rate and sensitivity, or the need for mechanical scanning, current microscopes are optimized for imaging at hundreds of frames-per-second (fps), well-below what is needed in processes such as neuronal signaling or moving parts in manufacturing lines. Here, we present a scan-less technology that allows sub-micrometric imaging at thousands of fps. It is based on combining a single-pixel camera with parallelized encoded illumination. We use two acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) placed in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and drive them simultaneously with multiple and unique acoustic frequencies. As a result, orthogonal light stripes are obtained that interfere with the sample plane, forming a two-dimensional array of flickering spots - each with its modulation frequency. The light from the sample is collected with a single photodiode that, after spectrum analysis, allows for image reconstruction at speeds only limited by the AOD's bandwidth and laser power. We describe the working principle of our approach, characterize its imaging performance as a function of the number of pixels - up to 400 × 400 - and characterize dynamic events at 5000 fps.

Analysis of Acousto-Optic Figure of Merit in KGW and KYW Crystals

Monoclinic potassium rare-earth crystals are known as efficient materials for solid-state lasers and acousto-optic modulators. A number of specific configurations for acousto-optic devices based on those crystals have recently been proposed, but the acousto-optic effect of those crystals has only been analyzed fragmentarily for some interaction directions. In this work, we numerically searched for the global maxima of an acousto-optic figure of merit for isotropic diffraction in KGd(WO₄)₂ and KY(WO₄)₂ crystals. It was demonstrated that the global maxima of the acousto-optic figure of merit in those crystals occur in the slow optical mode propagating along the crystal's twofold symmetry axis and in the acoustic wave propagating orthogonally, both for quasi-longitudinal and quasi-shear acoustic modes. The proposed calculation method can be readily used for the optimization of the acousto-optic interaction geometry in crystals with arbitrary symmetry.

Acoustic, Phononic, Brillouin Light Scattering and Faraday Wave-Based Frequency Combs: Physical Foundations and Applications

Frequency combs (FCs)-spectra containing equidistant coherent peaks-have enabled researchers and engineers to measure the frequencies of complex signals with high precision, thereby revolutionising the areas of sensing, metrology and communications and also benefiting the fundamental science. Although mostly optical FCs have found widespread applications thus far, in general FCs can be generated using waves other than light. Here, we review and summarise recent achievements in the emergent field of acoustic frequency combs (AFCs), including phononic FCs and relevant acousto-optical, Brillouin light scattering and Faraday wave-based techniques that have enabled the development of phonon lasers, quantum computers and advanced vibration sensors. In particular, our discussion is centred around potential applications of AFCs in precision measurements in various physical, chemical and biological systems in conditions where using light, and hence optical FCs, faces technical and fundamental limitations, which is, for example, the case in underwater distance measurements and biomedical imaging applications. This review article will also be of interest to readers seeking a discussion of specific theoretical aspects of different classes of AFCs. To that end, we support the mainstream discussion by the results of our original analysis and numerical simulations that can be used to design the spectra of AFCs generated using oscillations of gas bubbles in liquids, vibrations of liquid drops and plasmonic enhancement of Brillouin light scattering in metal nanostructures. We also discuss the application of non-toxic room-temperature liquid-metal alloys in the field of AFC generation.

Evaluation of Optical and Acoustical Properties of Ba1-xSrxTiO3 Thin Film Material Library via Conjugation of Picosecond Laser Ultrasonics with X-ray Diffraction, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy, Electron Probe Micro Analysis, Scanning Electron and Atomic Force Microscopies

Wide-range continuous spatial variation of the film composition in lateral compositionally graded epitaxial films requires the development of high throughput measurement techniques for their local and non-destructive characterization with the highest possible spatial resolution. Here we report on the first application of the picosecond laser ultrasonics (PLU) technique for the evaluation of acoustical and optical parameters of lateral compositionally graded film, the Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) material library. The film was not dedicatedly prepared for its opto-acousto-optic evaluation by PLU, exhibiting significant lateral variations in thickness and surface roughness. Therefore, the achieved measurements of the sound velocity and of the optical refractive index, and characterization of the surface roughness confirm the robustness of the PLU technique for thin film evaluation. We hope that the first measurements of the acoustical and optical properties of epitaxial grown Ba_1−xSr_xTiO₃ (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) by PLU technique accomplished here provide the parameters required for more extended predictive design of the phononic, photonic and phoxonic mirrors and cavities with superior properties/functionalities for novel multifunctional nanodevices.

Acousto-Optic Cells with Phased-Array Transducers and Their Application in Systems of Optical Information Processing

This paper presents the results of theoretical and experimental studies of anisotropic acousto-optic interaction in a spatially periodical acoustic field created by a phased-array transducer with antiphase excitation of adjacent sections. In this case, contrary to the nonsectioned transducer, light diffraction is absent when the optical beam falls on the phased-array cell at the Bragg angle. However, the diffraction takes place at some other angles (called “optimal” here), which are situated on the opposite sides to the Bragg angle. Our calculations show that the diffraction efficiency can reach 100% at these optimal angles in spite of a noticeable acousto-optic phase mismatch. This kind of acousto-optic interaction possesses a number of interesting regularities which can be useful for designing acousto-optic devices of a new type. Our experiments were performed with a paratellurite (TeO₂) cell in which a shear acoustic mode was excited at a 9° angle to the crystal plane (001). The piezoelectric transducer had to nine antiphase sections. The efficiency of electric to acoustic power conversion was 99% at the maximum frequency response, and the ultrasound excitation band extended from 70 to 160 MHz. The experiments have confirmed basic results of the theoretical analysis.

Comprehensive Imaging of Sensory-Evoked Activity of Entire Neurons Within the Awake Developing Brain Using Ultrafast AOD-Based Random-Access Two-Photon Microscopy

Determining how neurons transform synaptic input and encode information in action potential (AP) firing output is required for understanding dendritic integration, neural transforms and encoding. Limitations in the speed of imaging 3D volumes of brain encompassing complex dendritic arbors in vivo using conventional galvanometer mirror-based laser-scanning microscopy has hampered fully capturing fluorescent sensors of activity throughout an individual neuron's entire complement of synaptic inputs and somatic APs. To address this problem, we have developed a two-photon microscope that achieves high-speed scanning by employing inertia-free acousto-optic deflectors (AODs) for laser beam positioning, enabling random-access sampling of hundreds to thousands of points-of-interest restricted to a predetermined neuronal structure, avoiding wasted scanning of surrounding extracellular tissue. This system is capable of comprehensive imaging of the activity of single neurons within the intact and awake vertebrate brain. Here, we demonstrate imaging of tectal neurons within the brains of albino Xenopus laevis tadpoles labeled using single-cell electroporation for expression of a red space-filling fluorophore to determine dendritic arbor morphology, and either the calcium sensor jGCaMP7s or the glutamate sensor iGluSnFR as indicators of neural activity. Using discrete, point-of-interest scanning we achieve sampling rates of 3 Hz for saturation sampling of entire arbors at 2 μm resolution, 6 Hz for sequentially sampling 3 volumes encompassing the dendritic arbor and soma, and 200–250 Hz for scanning individual planes through the dendritic arbor. This system allows investigations of sensory-evoked information input-output relationships of neurons within the intact and awake brain.

Investigating ultrasound-light interaction in scattering media

SIGNIFICANCE

Ultrasound-assisted optical imaging techniques, such as ultrasound-modulated optical tomography, allow for imaging deep inside scattering media. In these modalities, a fraction of the photons passing through the ultrasound beam is modulated. The efficiency by which the photons are converted is typically referred to as the ultrasound modulation's "tagging efficiency." Interestingly, this efficiency has been defined in varied and discrepant fashion throughout the scientific literature.

AIM

The aim of this study is the ultrasound tagging efficiency in a manner consistent with its definition and experimentally verify the contributive (or noncontributive) relationship between the mechanisms involved in the ultrasound optical modulation process.

APPROACH

We adopt a general description of the tagging efficiency as the fraction of photons traversing an ultrasound beam that is frequency shifted (inclusion of all frequency-shifted components). We then systematically studied the impact of ultrasound pressure and frequency on the tagging efficiency through a balanced detection measurement system that measured the power of each order of the ultrasound tagged light, as well as the power of the unmodulated light component.

RESULTS

Through our experiments, we showed that the tagging efficiency can reach 70% in a scattering phantom with a scattering anisotropy of 0.9 and a scattering coefficient of 4  mm  -  1 for a 1-MHz ultrasound with a relatively low (and biomedically acceptable) peak pressure of 0.47 MPa. Furthermore, we experimentally confirmed that the two ultrasound-induced light modulation mechanisms, particle displacement and refractive index change, act in opposition to each other.

CONCLUSION

Tagging efficiency was quantified via simulation and experiments. These findings reveal avenues of investigation that may help improve ultrasound-assisted optical imaging techniques.

Imaging blood flow inside highly scattering media using ultrasound modulated optical tomography

We report the use of ultrasound modulated optical tomography (UOT) with heterodyne parallel detection to locally sense and image blood flow deep inside a highly scattering medium. We demonstrate that the UOT signal is sensitive to the speed of the blood flow in the ultrasound focus and present an analytical model that relates UOT signals to the optical properties (i. e. scattering coefficient, anisotropy, absorption, and flow speed) of the blood and the background medium. We found an excellent agreement between the experimental data and the analytical model. By varying the integration time of the camera in our setup, we were able to spatially resolve blood flow in a scattering medium with a lateral resolution of 1.5 mm.

Acousto-Plasmonic Sensing Assisted by Nonlinear Optical Interactions in Bimetallic Au-Pt Nanoparticles

A strong influence of mechanical action in nonlinear optical transmittance experiments with bimetallic nanoparticles integrated by gold and platinum was observed. The nanostructured samples were synthesized by a sol-gel method and contained in an ethanol suspension. UV-VIS spectroscopy evaluations, Transmission electron microscopy studies and input-output laser experiments were characterized. A two-photon absorption effect was induced by nanosecond pulses at 532 nm wavelength with an important contribution from the plasmonic response of the nanomaterials. All-optical identification of acoustical waves was remarkably improved by optical nonlinearities. High sensitivity for instrumentation of mechano-optical signals sensing particular fluids was demonstrated by using a variable carbon dioxide incorporation to the system.

Two-layer heterogeneous breast phantom for photoacoustic imaging

Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) is emerging as a potentially important aid for breast cancer detection. Well-validated tissue-simulating phantoms are needed for objective, quantitative, and physically realistic testing for system development. Prior reported PAT phantoms with homogenous structures do not incorporate the irregular layered structure of breast tissue. To assess the impact of this simplification, we design and construct two-layer breast phantoms incorporating vessel-simulating inclusions and realistic undulations at the fat/fibroglandular tissue interface. The phantoms are composed of custom poly(vinyl chloride) plastisol formulations mimicking the acoustic properties of two breast tissue types and tissue-relevant similar optical properties. Resulting PAT images demonstrate that in tissue with acoustic heterogeneity, lateral size of imaging targets is sensitive to the choice of sound speed in image reconstruction. The undulating boundary can further degrade a target's lateral size due to sound speed variation in tissue and refraction of sound waves at the interface. The extent of this degradation is also influenced by the geometric relationship between an absorber and the boundary. Results indicate that homogeneous phantom matrixes may underestimate the degradation of PAT image quality in breast tissue, whereas heterogeneous phantoms can provide more realistic testing through improved reproduction of spatial variations in physical properties.

Tumor glucose metabolism imaged in vivo in small animals with whole-body photoacoustic computed tomography

With the increasing use of small animals for human disease studies, small-animal whole-body molecular imaging plays an important role in biomedical research. Currently, none of the existing imaging modalities can provide both anatomical and glucose molecular information, leading to higher costs of building dual-modality systems. Even with image co-registration, the spatial resolution of the molecular imaging modality is not improved. Utilizing a ring-shaped confocal photoacoustic computed tomography system, we demonstrate, for the first time, that both anatomy and glucose uptake can be imaged in a single modality. Anatomy was imaged with the endogenous hemoglobin contrast, and glucose metabolism was imaged with a near-infrared dye-labeled 2-deoxyglucose.

Ultrasound-mediated optical tomography: a review of current methods

Ultrasound-mediated optical tomography (UOT) is a hybrid technique that is able to combine the high penetration depth and high spatial resolution of ultrasound imaging to overcome the limits imposed by optical scattering for deep tissue optical sensing and imaging. It has been proposed as a method to detect blood concentrations, oxygenation and metabolism at depth in tissue for the detection of vascularized tumours or the presence of absorbing or scattering contrast agents. In this paper, the basic principles of the method are outlined and methods for simulating the UOT signal are described. The main detection methods are then summarized with a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each. The recent focus on increasing the weak UOT signal through the use of the acoustic radiation force is explained, together with a summary of our results showing sensitivity to the mechanical shear stiffness and optical absorption properties of tissue-mimicking phantoms.

Characterization of individual ultrasound microbubble dynamics with a light-scattering system

Ultrasound microbubbles are contrast agents used for diagnostic ultrasound imaging and as carriers for noninvasive payload delivery. Understanding the acoustic properties of individual microbubble formulations is important for optimizing the ultrasound imaging parameters for improved image contrast and efficient payload delivery. We report here a practical and simple optical tool for direct real-time characterization of ultrasound contrast microbubble dynamics based on light scattering. Fourier transforms of raw linear and nonlinear acoustic oscillations, and microbubble cavitations are directly recorded. Further, the power of this tool is demonstrated by comparing clinically relevant microbubble cycle-to-cycle dynamics and their corresponding Fourier transforms.