A fast-Fourier-transform method of topography and interferometry is proposed. By computer processing of a noncontour type of fringe pattern, automatic discrimination is achieved between elevation and depression of the object or wave-front form, which has not been possible by the fringe-contour-generation techniques. The method has advantages over moire topography and conventional fringe-contour interferometry in both accuracy and sensitivity. Unlike fringe-scanning techniques, the method is easy to apply because it uses no moving components.

Fourier-transform method of fringe-pattern analysis for computer-based topography and interferometry

Effective manipulation of cavity resonant modes is crucial for emission control in laser physics and applications. Using the concept of parity-time symmetry to exploit the interplay between gain and loss (i.e., light amplification and absorption), we demonstrate a parity-time symmetry-breaking laser with resonant modes that can be controlled at will. In contrast to conventional ring cavity lasers with multiple competing modes, our parity-time microring laser exhibits intrinsic single-mode lasing regardless of the gain spectral bandwidth. Thresholdless parity-time symmetry breaking due to the rotationally symmetric structure leads to stable single-mode operation with the selective whispering-gallery mode order. Exploration of parity-time symmetry in laser physics may open a door to next-generation optoelectronic devices for optical communications and computing.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/346/6212/972.full.pdf

Single-mode laser by parity-time symmetry breaking.

Sensing technology has been widely investigated and utilized for gas detection. Due to the different applicability and inherent limitations of different gas sensing technologies, researchers have been working on different scenarios with enhanced gas sensor calibration. This paper reviews the descriptions, evaluation, comparison and recent developments in existing gas sensing technologies. A classification of sensing technologies is given, based on the variation of electrical and other properties. Detailed introduction to sensing methods based on electrical variation is discussed through further classification according to sensing materials, including metal oxide semiconductors, polymers, carbon nanotubes, and moisture absorbing materials. Methods based on other kinds of variations such as optical, calorimetric, acoustic and gas-chromatographic, are presented in a general way. Several suggestions related to future development are also discussed. Furthermore, this paper focuses on sensitivity and selectivity for performance indicators to compare different sensing technologies, analyzes the factors that influence these two indicators, and lists several corresponding improved approaches.

A Survey on Gas Sensing Technology

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) has emerged as a valuable method for investigating cells and tissues. QPI operates on unlabelled specimens and, as such, is complementary to established fluorescence microscopy, exhibiting lower phototoxicity and no photobleaching. As the images represent quantitative maps of optical path length delays introduced by the specimen, QPI provides an objective measure of morphology and dynamics, free of variability due to contrast agents. Owing to the tremendous progress witnessed especially in the past 10–15 years, a number of technologies have become sufficiently reliable and translated to biomedical laboratories. Commercialization efforts are under way and, as a result, the QPI field is now transitioning from a technology-development-driven to an application-focused field. In this Review, we aim to provide a critical and objective overview of this dynamic research field by presenting the scientific context, main principles of operation and current biomedical applications. Over the past 10–15 years, quantitative phase imaging has moved from a research-driven to an application-focused field. This Review presents the main principles of operation and representative basic and clinical science applications.

Quantitative phase imaging in biomedicine

Many procedures in modern clinical medicine rely on the use of electronic implants in treating conditions that range from acute coronary events to traumatic injury. However, standard permanent electronic hardware acts as a nidus for infection: bacteria form biofilms along percutaneous wires, or seed haematogenously, with the potential to migrate within the body and to provoke immune-mediated pathological tissue reactions. The associated surgical retrieval procedures, meanwhile, subject patients to the distress associated with re-operation and expose them to additional complications. Here, we report materials, device architectures, integration strategies, and in vivo demonstrations in rats of implantable, multifunctional silicon sensors for the brain, for which all of the constituent materials naturally resorb via hydrolysis and/or metabolic action, eliminating the need for extraction. Continuous monitoring of intracranial pressure and temperature illustrates functionality essential to the treatment of traumatic brain injury; the measurement performance of our resorbable devices compares favourably with that of non-resorbable clinical standards. In our experiments, insulated percutaneous wires connect to an externally mounted, miniaturized wireless potentiostat for data transmission. In a separate set-up, we connect a sensor to an implanted (but only partially resorbable) data-communication system, proving the principle that there is no need for any percutaneous wiring. The devices can be adapted to sense fluid flow, motion, pH or thermal characteristics, in formats that are compatible with the body's abdomen and extremities, as well as the deep brain, suggesting that the sensors might meet many needs in clinical medicine.

Bioresorbable silicon electronic sensors for the brain

We demonstrate a new fabrication technique called digital projection photochemical etching and apply it to make complicated gray-scale diffractive optical elements, such as a radial sinusoidal grating, in a single processing step.

Fabrication of Diffractive Optical Elements with Digital Projection Photochemical Etching

White-light imaging systems are free of laser-speckle. Thus, they offer high sensitivity for optical defect metrology, especially when used with interferometry based quantitative phase imaging. This can be a potential solution for wafer inspection beyond the 9 nm node. Recently, we built a white-light epi-illumination diffraction phase microscopy (epi-wDPM) for wafer defect inspection. The system is also equipped with an XYZ scanning stage and real-time processing. Preliminary results have demonstrated detection of 15 nm by 90 nm in a 9 nm node densely patterned wafer with bright-field imaging. Currently, we are implementing phase imaging with epi-wDPM for additional sensitivity.

White-light interferometric microscopy for wafer defect inspection

Simulation results for an etched air hole photonic crystal (PhC) vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) structure
with various thicknesses of metal deposited inside the holes are presented. The higher-order modes of the structure are
more spread out than the fundamental mode, and penetrate into the metal-filled holes. Due to the lossy nature of the
metal, these higher-order modes experience a greater loss than the fundamental mode, resulting in an enhanced side
mode suppression ratio (SMSR). A figure of merit for determining which metals would have the greatest impact on the
SMSR is derived and validated using a transmission matrix method calculation. A full three-dimensional simulation of
the PhC VCSEL structure is performed using the plane wave admittance method, and SMSRs are calculated for
increasing metal thicknesses. Of the metals simulated, chromium provided the greatest SMSR enhancement with more
than a 4 dB improvement with 500 nm of metal for an operating current of 12 times threshold.

Mode suppression in metal filled photonic crystal vertical cavity lasers

We computationally investigated the geometrical parameters of a hybrid plasmonic-microring resonator to enhance the detection sensitivity of the sensor without compromising the device performance. The detection sensitivity of the device is 77 fm per binding event of a thyroglobulin molecule.

A computational study of a hybrid plasmonic-microring for label-free detection

A commercial projector is used as a programmable illumination source for spatial light interference microscopy, providing flexibility and optimization of illumination pattern for images with higher resolution and less optical artifacts.

Lynford L. Goddard

Papers

Fabrication of Diffractive Optical Elements with Digital Projection Photochemical Etching

White-light interferometric microscopy for wafer defect inspection

Mode suppression in metal filled photonic crystal vertical cavity lasers

A computational study of a hybrid plasmonic-microring for label-free detection

Spatial light interference microscopy with programmable illumination patterns