Showing papers in "Advances in Optics and Photonics in 2015"

Optical communications using orbital angular momentum beams

Abstract: Orbital angular momentum (OAM), which describes the “phase twist” (helical phase pattern) of light beams, has recently gained interest due to its potential applications in many diverse areas. Particularly promising is the use of OAM for optical communications since: (i) coaxially propagating OAM beams with different azimuthal OAM states are mutually orthogonal, (ii) inter-beam crosstalk can be minimized, and (iii) the beams can be efficiently multiplexed and demultiplexed. As a result, multiple OAM states could be used as different carriers for multiplexing and transmitting multiple data streams, thereby potentially increasing the system capacity. In this paper, we review recent progress in OAM beam generation/detection, multiplexing/demultiplexing, and its potential applications in different scenarios including free-space optical communications, fiber-optic communications, and RF communications. Technical challenges and perspectives of OAM beams are also discussed.

Whispering gallery mode sensors

Abstract: We present a comprehensive overview of sensor technology exploiting optical whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances. After a short introduction we begin by detailing the fundamental principles and theory of WGMs in optical microcavities and the transduction mechanisms frequently employed for sensing purposes. Key recent theoretical contributions to the modeling and analysis of WGM systems are highlighted. Subsequently we review the state of the art of WGM sensors by outlining efforts made to date to improve current detection limits. Proposals in this vein are numerous and range, for example, from plasmonic enhancements and active cavities to hybrid optomechanical sensors, which are already working in the shot noise limited regime. In parallel to furthering WGM sensitivity, efforts to improve the time resolution are beginning to emerge. We therefore summarize the techniques being pursued in this vein. Ultimately WGM sensors aim for real-world applications, such as measurements of force and temperature, or alternatively gas and biosensing. Each such application is thus reviewed in turn, and important achievements are discussed. Finally, we adopt a more forward-looking perspective and discuss the outlook of WGM sensors within both a physical and biological context and consider how they may yet push the detection envelope further.

Ultrafast laser processing of materials: a review

Abstract: We present an overview of the different processes that can result from focusing an ultrafast laser light in the femtosecond–nanosecond time regime on a host of materials, e.g., metals, semiconductors, and insulators. We summarize the physical processes and surface and bulk applications and highlight how femtosecond lasers can be used to process various materials. Throughout this paper, we will show the advantages and disadvantages of using ultrafast lasers compared with lasers that operate in other regimes and demonstrate their potential for the ultrafast processing of materials and structures.

Laser feedback interferometry: a tutorial on the self-mixing effect for coherent sensing

Abstract: This tutorial presents a guided tour of laser feedback interferometry, from its origin and early development through its implementation to a slew of sensing applications, including displacement, distance, velocity, flow, refractive index, and laser linewidth measurement Along the way, we provide a step-by-step derivation of the basic rate equations for a laser experiencing optical feedback starting from the standard Lang and Kobayashi model and detail their subsequent reduction in steady state to the excess-phase equation We construct a simple framework for interferometric sensing applications built around the laser under optical feedback and illustrate how this results in a series of straightforward models for many signals arising in laser feedback interferometry Finally, we indicate promising directions for future work that harnesses the self-mixing effect for sensing applications

The photonic lantern

Abstract: Photonic lanterns are made by adiabatically merging several single-mode cores into one multimode core. They provide low-loss interfaces between single-mode and multimode systems, where the precise optical mapping between cores and individual modes is unimportant.

Principles of interference microscopy for the measurement of surface topography

Abstract: Interference microscopy plays a central role in noncontact strategies for process development and quality control, providing full 3D measurement of surface characteristics that influence the functional behavior of manufactured parts. Here I briefly review the history and principles of this important technique, then concentrate on the details of hardware, software, and applications of interference microscopy using phase-shifting and coherence scanning measurement principles. Recent advances considered here include performance improvements, vibration robustness, full color imaging, accommodation of highly sloped surfaces, correlation to contact methods, transparent film analysis, and international standardization of calibration and specification.

Recent advances in holographic 3D particle tracking

Abstract: Particle tracking is a fundamental technique for investigating a variety of biophysical processes, from intracellular dynamics to the characterization of cell motility and migration. However, observing three-dimensional (3D) trajectories of particles is in general a challenging task in classical microscopy owing to the limited imaging depth of field of commercial optical microscopes, which represents a serious drawback for the analysis of time-lapse microscopy image data. Therefore, numerous automated particle-tracking approaches have been developed by many research groups around the world. Recently, digital holography (DH) in microscopy has rapidly gained credit as one of the elective techniques for these applications, mainly due to the uniqueness of the DH to provide a posteriori quantitative multiple refocusing capability and phase-contrast imaging. Starting from this paradigm, a huge amount of 3D holographic tracking approaches have been conceived and investigated for applications in various branches of science, including optofluids, microfluidics, biomedical microscopy, cell mechano-trasduction, and cell migration. Since a wider community of readers could be interested in such a review, i.e., not only scientists working in the fields of optics and photonics but also users of particle-tracking tools, it should be very beneficial to provide a complete review of state-of-the-art holographic 3D particle-tracking methods and their applications in bio-microfluidics.

Recent advances in fundamentals and applications of random fiber lasers

Abstract: Random fiber lasers blend together attractive features of traditional random lasers, such as low cost and simplicity of fabrication, with high-performance characteristics of conventional fiber lasers, such as good directionality and high efficiency. Low coherence of random lasers is important for speckle-free imaging applications. The random fiber laser with distributed feedback proposed in 2010 led to a quickly developing class of light sources that utilize inherent optical fiber disorder in the form of the Rayleigh scattering and distributed Raman gain. The random fiber laser is an interesting and practically important example of a photonic device based on exploitation of optical medium disorder. We provide an overview of recent advances in this field, including high-power and high-efficiency generation, spectral and statistical properties of random fiber lasers, nonlinear kinetic theory of such systems, and emerging applications in telecommunications and distributed sensing.

Structured illumination microscopy

Abstract: Illumination plays an important role in optical microscopy. Kohler illumination, introduced more than a century ago, has been the backbone of optical microscopes. The last few decades have seen the evolution of new illumination techniques meant to improve certain imaging capabilities of the microscope. Most of them are, however, not amenable for wide-field observation and hence have restricted use in microscopy applications such as cell biology and microscale profile measurements. The method of structured illumination microscopy has been developed as a wide-field technique for achieving higher performance. Additionally, it is also compatible with existing microscopes. This method consists of modifying the illumination by superposing a well-defined pattern on either the sample itself or its image. Computational techniques are applied on the resultant images to remove the effect of the structure and to obtain the desired performance enhancement. This method has evolved over the last two decades and has emerged as a key illumination technique for optical sectioning, super-resolution imaging, surface profiling, and quantitative phase imaging of microscale objects in cell biology and engineering. In this review, we describe various structured illumination methods in optical microscopy and explain the principles and technologies involved therein.

Transverse Anderson localization of light: a tutorial

Abstract: This tutorial gives an overview of the transverse Anderson localization of light in one and two transverse dimensions. A pedagogical approach is followed throughout the presentation, where many aspects of localization are illustrated by means of a few simple models. The tutorial starts with some basic aspects of random matrix theory and light propagation through and reflection from a random stack of dielectric slabs. Transverse Anderson localization of light in one- and two-dimensional coupled waveguide arrays is subsequently established and discussed. Recent experimental observations of localization and image transport in disordered optical fibers are discussed. More advanced topics, such as hyper-transport in longitudinally varying disordered waveguides, the impact of nonlinearity, and propagation of partially coherent and quantum light, are also examined.

Optical vortex induction via light–matter interaction in liquid-crystal media

Abstract: Optical vortices are attracting much attention because of their applications in various fields of optical processing, communications, enhanced imaging systems, and bio-inspired devices. Different methods to generate optical vortices have been devised to date. Among them, several are based on the exploitation of light–matter interaction in liquid-crystal media. This review focuses on the main mechanisms of vortex generation in liquid crystals, in particular on vortex generation induced by umbilics, that is, defects arising in homeotropically aligned nematic cells, which act as topological matter templates able to realize the conversion from spin to orbital angular momentum of an incoming Gaussian beam. Optical vortex induction in a photosensitive light valve is presented as a self-stabilizing mechanism leading to reconfigurable and programmable vortex arrays. On each lattice site, every matter vortex acts as a photonic spin-to-orbital momentum coupler, converting input arrays of circularly polarized beams into output arrays of vortex beams with topological charges consistent with the matter lattice symmetry.

A pragmatic guide to multiphoton microscope design

Abstract: Multiphoton microscopy has emerged as a ubiquitous tool for studying microscopic structure and function across a broad range of disciplines. As such, the intent of this paper is to present a comprehensive resource for the construction and performance evaluation of a multiphoton microscope that will be understandable to the broad range of scientific fields that presently exploit, or wish to begin exploiting, this powerful technology. With this in mind, we have developed a guide to aid in the design of a multiphoton microscope. We discuss source selection, optical management of dispersion, image-relay systems with scan optics, objective-lens selection, single-element light-collection theory, photon-counting detection, image rendering, and finally, an illustrated guide for building an example microscope.

Tuning field depth at high resolution by pupil engineering

Abstract: We present a simple comprehensive treatment on the use of free-form optical elements, and of nonuniform optical windows, either for increasing focal depth [by regulating the width of the axial point spread function (PSF)] or for tuning the depth of field [by controlling the influence of focus error on the modulation transfer function (MTF)]. We employ the rising notation of pupil engineering, which incorporates techniques for controlling the spread of the axial PSF, as well as methods for governing the impact of focus errors on the MTF. Our discussion also includes the use of vortex lenses for designing nonconventional optical systems.

Whispering gallery mode sensors: erratum

Abstract: We present an erratum to correct inadvertent typographical errors in our paper [Adv. Opt. Photon.7, 168 (2015)AOPAC71943-820610.1364/AOP.7.000168] and to update Fig. 7 therein following a revised version from the original authors.