There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

We introduce the concept of the perfect optical vortex whose dark hollow radius does not depend on the topological charge. It is shown analytically and experimentally that such a vortex can be approximately generated in the Fourier transforming optical system with a computer-controlled liquid-crystal spatial light modulator.

Generation of the "perfect" optical vortex using a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator

On-machine and in-process surface metrology for precision manufacturing

Micro-structured functional surfaces have achieved widespread applications in various advanced scientific, technological, industrial, and engineered fields due to their excellent performances, which are vitally limited by their feasible fabrication. Currently, ultra-precision machining, typically including ultra-precision diamond turning, ultra-precision diamond milling, ultra-precision diamond scratching, ultra-precision grinding, and ultra-precision polishing, is developed as a very-promising solution for the micro-structured functional surface fabrication with high quality, high efficiency, high flexibility, and low cost. Therefore, this paper aims to briefly review the current state of the art in the investigation into ultra-precision machining characteristics of micro-structured functional surfaces with a focus on their typical advanced applications as the significant achievements of their ultra-precision machining fabrication, discuss the key challenges, and further provide new insights into ultra-precision machining of micro-structured functional surfaces for the future research and their further advanced applications.

Advances in ultra-precision machining of micro-structured functional surfaces and their typical applications

Low-power integrated projection technology can play a key role in development of low-cost mobile devices with built-in high-resolution projectors. Low-cost 3D imaging and holography systems are also among applications of such a technology. In this paper, an integrated projection system based on a two-dimensional optical phased array with fast beam steering capability is reported. Forward biased p-i-n phase modulators with 200MHz bandwidth are used per each array element for rapid phase control. An optimization algorithm is implemented to compensate for the phase dependent attenuation of the p-i-n modulators. Using rapid vector scanning technique, images were formed and recorded within a single snapshot of the IR camera.

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Nanophotonic projection system.

A theoretical and experimental investigation of material removal characteristics and surface generation in bonnet polishing

An illumination system using LED sources for pocket-size projectors is designed. Its color gamut is much larger than the sRGB standard. The maximum theoretical efficiency of this system is 29.98% by non-imaging theory-based calculations. To analyze the system model, 1.5 × 106 rays are traced by using the LightTools software. The total light flux that illuminates the digital micromirror device is 44 lm and the American National Standards Institute 13-point uniformity on the surface is 91.55%,
−91.15% with a system efficiency of 28.3%. The calculations are in good agreement with the simulation results. The illumination system can be used for personal pocket-size projectors providing a 15-20 in. (38-51 cm) color display with the brightness comparable with a laptop.

Illumination system using LED sources for pocket-size projectors

Traditional off-line measuring systems find it difficult to measure micro-structured workpieces which have a large volume and heavy weight, such as micro-structured patterned precision roller drums. This paper proposes an autostereoscopy-based three-dimensional (3D) measuring method and develops an innovative measuring system for the 3D on-machine measurement of the micro-structured surfaces, an Autostereoscopy-based Three-Dimensional On-machine Measuring (ATDOM) system. The ATDOM system is compact and capable of fast data acquisition and high accuracy in 3D computational reconstruction of complex surfaces under different measuring environments. A prototype ATDOM system is experimentally verified through a series of measurement experiments conducted on a precision machine tool. The results indicate that the ATDOM system provides an important means for efficient and reliable on-machine measurement of micro-structured surfaces.

Autostereoscopy-based three-dimensional on-machine measuring system for micro-structured surfaces

We propose a method for enhancing depth-of-field, in which the spot size on a marginal depth plane is reduced. This method is implemented in a projection-type integral imaging system using a negative lens array without a diffuser. Numerical simulation results show that the spot size is merely 5.7% of that in a conventional system. Thus, the depth-of-field in the proposed system is enhanced by 17.5 times over that in a conventional system. Optical experiments confirm good agreement between the results and numerical predictions.

Enhancement of depth-of-field in a direct projection-type integral imaging system by a negative lens array

We propose a generalized approach to producing optical vortices with suppressed sidelobes using a variable Bessel-like function added to the conventional spiral phase plate. Experimental verifications are implemented by a phase-only spatial light modulator. It is demonstrated that the method is valid for optical vortex beams with arbitrary topological charges and without changing the primary ring size as a unique property among the existing techniques.

Xing Zhao

Papers

A theoretical and experimental investigation of material removal characteristics and surface generation in bonnet polishing

Illumination system using LED sources for pocket-size projectors

Autostereoscopy-based three-dimensional on-machine measuring system for micro-structured surfaces

Enhancement of depth-of-field in a direct projection-type integral imaging system by a negative lens array

Generalized approach to modifying optical vortices with suppressed sidelobes using Bessel-like functions