Zhaoliang Cao

Bio: Zhaoliang Cao is an academic researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences. The author has contributed to research in topics: Adaptive optics & Wavefront. The author has an hindex of 15, co-authored 94 publications receiving 810 citations.

Adaptive optics imaging system based on a high-resolution liquid crystal on silicon device

Abstract: An adaptive optics imaging system is introduced in this paper. A high-resolution liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device was used as a phase-only wavefront corrector instead of a conversional deformable mirror. The wavefront aberration was detected by a Shack-Hartmann (SH) wavefront sensor, which has a wavefront measurement accuracy of λ/100 rms (λ = 0.6328 μm). Under this construction, Peak-to-Valley correction precision of 0.09 λ was reached. Furthermore, some low-frequency hot convection turbulence induced by an electric iron was compensated in real time at the same precision. The modulation transfer function (MTF) of this system was also measured before and after wavefront correction. Under the active correction of LCOS, the system reached the diffraction limited resolution approximately 65l p/mm on the horizontal direction. All of this showed the possibility of using this device in a high-resolution, low temporal turbulence imaging system, such as retinal imaging, to improve the resolution performance.

Investigation of optical testing with a phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator

Abstract: We illustrate that the phase-only liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LC SLM) can be used for optical testing. The large phase change and the phase modulation precision are discussed. The computer generated holograms (CGH) method is used to acquire the significant phase modulation. And the phase modulating characteristics of the LC SLM are measured. It shows the phase modulation depth is more than 2π and the modulation precision is down to 1/14λ (PV) and 1/100λ (rms) (λ=632.8nm). In order to verify this method, the former surface of a convex lens is tested by ZYGO interferometer. The parallel straight fringes are obtained. It is shown that PV is 1/3λ and rms is 1/20λ after compensated by the LC SLM.

Performance analysis of an adaptive optics system for free-space optics communication through atmospheric turbulence.

Abstract: The performance of free-space optics communication (FSOC) is greatly degraded by atmospheric turbulence. Adaptive optics (AO) is an effective method for attenuating the influence. In this paper, the influence of the spatial and temporal characteristics of turbulence on the performance of AO in a FSOC system is investigated. Based on the Greenwood frequency (GF) and the ratio of receiver aperture diameter to atmospheric coherent length (D/r 0 ), the relationship between FSOC performance (CE) and AO parameters (corrected Zernike modes number and bandwidth) is derived for the first time. Then, simulations and experiments are conducted to analyze the influence of AO parameters on FSOC performance under different GF and D/r 0 . The simulation and experimental results show that, for common turbulence conditions, the number of corrected Zernike modes can be fixed at 35 and the bandwidth of the AO system should be larger than the GF. Measurements of the bit error rate (BER) for moderate turbulence conditions (D/r 0 = 10, f G = 60 Hz) show that when the bandwidth is two times that of GF, the average BER is decreased by two orders of magnitude compared with f G /f 3dB = 1. These results and conclusions can provide important guidance in the design of an AO system for FSOC.

High-precision open-loop adaptive optics system based on LC-SLM.

Abstract: Used as a wavefront corrector, a liquid crystal spatial modulator (LC-SLM) has good repeatability and linearity, which are essential for open-loop adaptive optics, and the open-loop optical system can increase the light energy efficiency by a factor of two for the LC-SLM and improve the system bandwidth. In order to test the performance of the LC-SLM in open-loop correction, an indoor closed-loop configuration optical system is constructed on the open-loop control method. With this method, it is demonstrated that the residual error after open-loop correction could be smaller than 0.08lambda (RMS: root mean square value) if the initial wavefront aberration is below 2.5lambda (RMS), and the repeatability error of open-loop correction is smaller than 0.01lambda (RMS).

Open-loop correction of horizontal turbulence: system design and result.

Abstract: Adaptive optics systems often work in a closed-loop configuration due to the hysteretic and nonlinearity properties of conventional deformable mirrors. Because of the high-precision wavefront generation and nonhysteretic properties of liquid-crystal devices, the open-loop control becomes possible. Open-loop control is a requirement for advanced adaptive optics concepts. We designed an open-loop adaptive optics system with a liquid-crystal-on-silicon wavefront corrector. This system is simple, fast, and can save much more light compared to conventional liquid-crystal-based closed-loop systems. The detailed principle, construction, and operation are discussed. The 500 m horizontal turbulence correction experiment was done using a 250 mm telescope in the laboratory. The whole system can reach a 60 Hz correction frequency. Evaluation of the correction precision was done at closed-loop configuration, which is 0.2λ (λ=0.633 μm) in peak to valley. The dynamic image under open-loop correction got the same resolution compared to closed-loop correction. The whole system reached 0.68 arc sec resolution capability at open-loop correction, which is slightly larger than the system's diffraction-limited resolution of 0.65 arc sec.

Principles Of Optics Electromagnetic Theory Of Propagation Interference And Diffraction Of Light

Abstract: Thank you for reading principles of optics electromagnetic theory of propagation interference and diffraction of light. As you may know, people have search hundreds times for their favorite novels like this principles of optics electromagnetic theory of propagation interference and diffraction of light, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than enjoying a good book with a cup of coffee in the afternoon, instead they are facing with some infectious bugs inside their computer.

Tailoring of arbitrary optical vector beams

Abstract: We present a robust interferometric method to generate arbitrary vector beam modes by diffracting a Gaussian laser beam from a spatial light modulator consisting of a high-resolution reflective nematic liquid crystal display. Vector beams may have the same intensity cross-section as the more common scalar Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) or Hermite–Gaussian (HG) beams, but with a spatially modulated polarization distribution. Special cases are the radially or azimuthally polarized 'doughnut' modes, which have superior focusing properties and promise novel applications in many fields, such as optical trapping, spectroscopy and super-resolution microscopy. Our system allows video rate switching between vector beam modes. We demonstrate the generation of high quality Hermite–Gaussian and Laguerre–Gaussian vector beam modes of different order, of vectorial anti-vortices, and of mode mixtures with interesting non-symmetric polarization distributions.

Cortical layer–specific critical dynamics triggering perception

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Perceptual experiences in mammals may arise from patterns of neural circuit activity in cerebral cortex. For example, primary visual cortex (V1) is causally capable of initiating visual perception; in human neurosurgery patients, V1 electrical microstimulation has been reported to elicit basic visual percepts including spots of light, patterns, shapes, motions, and colors. Related phenomena have been studied in laboratory animals using similar electrical stimulation procedures, although detailed investigation has been difficult because studies of percept initiation in cortex have not involved groups of neurons individually selected for stimulation. Therefore, it is not clear how different percepts arise in cortex, nor why some stimuli fail to generate perceptual experiences. Answering these questions will require working with basic cellular elements within cortical circuit architecture during perception. RATIONALE To understand how circuits in V1 are specifically involved in visual perception, it is essential to probe, at the most basic cellular level, how behaviorally consequential percepts are initiated and maintained. In this study, we developed and implemented several key technological advances that together enable writing neural activity into dozens of single neurons in mouse V1 at physiological time scales. These methods also enabled us to simultaneously read out the impact of this stimulation on downstream network activity across hundreds of nearby neurons. Successful training of alert mice to discriminate the precisely defined circuit inputs enabled systematic investigation of basic cortical dynamics underlying perception. RESULTS We developed an experimental approach to drive large numbers of individually specified neurons, distributed across V1 volumes and targeted on the basis of natural response-selectivity properties observed during specific visual stimuli (movies of drifting horizontal or vertical gratings). To implement this approach, we built an optical read-write system capable of kilohertz speed, millimeter-scale lateral scope, and three-dimensional (3D) access across superficial to deep layers of cortex to tens or hundreds of individually specified neurons. This system was integrated with an unusual microbial opsin gene identified by crystal structure–based genome mining: ChRmine, named after the deep-red color carmine. This newly identified opsin confers properties crucial for cellular-resolution percept-initiation experiments: red-shifted light sensitivity, extremely large photocurrents alongside millisecond spike-timing fidelity, and compatibility with simultaneous two-photon Ca2+ imaging. Using ChRmine together with custom holographic devices to create arbitrarily specified light patterns, we were able to measure naturally occurring large-scale 3D ensemble activity patterns during visual experience and then replay these natural patterns at the level of many individually specified cells. We found that driving specific ensembles of cells on the basis of natural stimulus-selectivity resulted in recruitment of a broad network with dynamical patterns corresponding to those elicited by real visual stimuli and also gave rise to the correctly selective behaviors even in the absence of visual input. This approach allowed mapping of the cell numbers, layers, network dynamics, and adaptive events underlying generation of behaviorally potent percepts in neocortex, via precise control over naturally occurring, widely distributed, and finely resolved temporal parameters and cellular elements of the corresponding neural representations. CONCLUSION The cortical population dynamics that emerged after optogenetic stimulation both predicted the correctly elicited behavior and mimicked the natural neural representations of visual stimuli.

Fundamentals of phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) devices

Abstract: This paper describes the fundamentals of phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) technology, which have not been previously discussed in detail. This technology is widely utilized in high efficiency applications for real-time holography and diffractive optics. The paper begins with a brief introduction on the developmental trajectory of phase-only LCOS technology, followed by the correct selection of liquid crystal (LC) materials and corresponding electro-optic effects in such devices. Attention is focused on the essential requirements of the physical aspects of the LC layer as well as the indispensable parameters for the response time of the device. Furthermore, the basic functionalities embedded in the complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) silicon backplane for phase-only LCOS devices are illustrated, including two typical addressing schemes. Finally, the application of phase-only LCOS devices in real-time holography will be introduced in association with the use of cutting-edge computer-generated holograms. The capabilities and applications of phase-only liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) technology are reviewed by scientists in China and the United Kingdom. Zichen Zhang and co-workers from Tsinghua University in Beijing and the University of Cambridge describe how an electronically controlled liquid-crystal pixel array on a silicon backplane can be useful for manipulating the phase of coherent light. Such LCOS phase modulators have many potential applications, including real-time holography, head-up displays, wavelength-selective switches and reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers. Commercial devices currently offer array sizes of up to about 1-inch diagonal with pixel pitches in the range 6–20 μm. However, the technology is still immature; the liquid-crystal materials and silicon control backplane need to be optimized in order to realize the potential of such devices.