Synthesis of sub-diffraction quasi-non-diffracting beams by angular spectrum compression.
TL;DR: A method based on the idea of compressing a normalized angular spectrum is developed, which makes it possible and provides a practical tool for the design of a quasi-non-diffracting beam with super-oscillatory sub-wavelength transverse size.
Abstract: Quasi-non-diffracting beams are attractive for various applications, including optical manipulation, super-resolution microscopes, and materials processing. However, it is a great challenge to design and generate super-long quasi-non-diffracting beams with sub-diffraction and sub-wavelength size. In this paper, a method based on the idea of compressing a normalized angular spectrum is developed, which makes it possible and provides a practical tool for the design of a quasi-non-diffracting beam with super-oscillatory sub-wavelength transverse size. It also presents a clear physical picture of the formation of super-oscillatory quasi-non-diffracting beams. Based on concepts of a local grating and super-oscillation, a lens was designed and fabricated for a working wavelength of λ = 632.8 nm. The validity of the idea of normalized angular spectrum compression was confirmed by both numerical investigations and experimental studies. An optical hollow needle with a length of more than 100λ was experimentally demonstrated, in which an optical hollow needle was observed with a sub-diffraction and sub-wavelength transverse size within a non-diffracting propagation distance of 94λ. Longer non-diffracting propagation distance is expected for a lens with larger radius and shorter effective wavelength.
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TL;DR: Recent developments in optical ‘superoscillation’ technologies are reviewed, which aim to overcome current limitations in superresolution techniques requiring contact with the observed object, the use of fluorescent labels, or viewing that is restricted to the near-field of a lens.
Abstract: The resolution of conventional optical elements and systems has long been perceived to satisfy the classic Rayleigh criterion. Paramount efforts have been made to develop different types of superresolution techniques to achieve optical resolution down to several nanometres, such as by using evanescent waves, fluorescence labelling, and postprocessing. Superresolution imaging techniques, which are noncontact, far field and label free, are highly desirable but challenging to implement. The concept of superoscillation offers an alternative route to optical superresolution and enables the engineering of focal spots and point-spread functions of arbitrarily small size without theoretical limitations. This paper reviews recent developments in optical superoscillation technologies, design approaches, methods of characterizing superoscillatory optical fields, and applications in noncontact, far-field and label-free superresolution microscopy. This work may promote the wider adoption and application of optical superresolution across different wave types and application domains.
84 citations
39 citations
TL;DR: An optimization-free design approach is proposed and the possibility of generating sub-diffraction quasi-non-diffracting beams with sub-wavelength size for different polarizations by a binary-phase Fresnel planar lens is demonstrated.
Abstract: Sub-diffraction quasi-non-diffracting beams with sub-wavelength transverse size are attractive for applications such as optical nano-manipulation, optical nano-fabrication, optical high-density storage, and optical super-resolution microscopy. In this paper, we proposed an optimization-free design approach and demonstrated the possibility of generating sub-diffraction quasi-non-diffracting beams with sub-wavelength size for different polarizations by a binary-phase Fresnel planar lens. More importantly, the optimization-free method significantly simplifies the design procedure and the generation of sub-diffracting quasi-non-diffracting beams. Utilizing the concept of normalized angular spectrum compression, for wavelength λ0 = 632.8 nm, a binary-phase Fresnel planar lens was designed and fabricated. The experimental results show that the sub-diffraction transverse size and the non-diffracting propagation distances are 0.40λ0–0.54λ0 and 90λ0, 0.43λ0–0.54λ0 and 73λ0, and 0.34λ0–0.41λ0 and 80λ0 for the generated quasi-non-diffracting beams with circular, longitudinal, and azimuthal polarizations, respectively.
24 citations
TL;DR: A binary-phase planar lens with an ultra-long focal length (300λ) for the generation of a 3D hollow spot with a cylindrical vector wave provides a promising way to achieve tight 3D optical confinement for different uses that might find applications in super-resolution microscopy, nano-lithography, high-density data storage, Nano-particle optical manipulation, and nano-optical manufacturing.
Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) hollow spot is of great interest for a wide variety of applications such as microscopy, lithography, data storage, optical manipulation, and optical manufacturing. Based on conventional high-numerical-aperture objective lenses, various methods have been proposed for the generation of 3D hollow spots for different polarizations. However, conventional optics are bulky, costly, and difficult to integrate. More importantly, they are diffraction-limited in nature. Owing to their unique properties of small size, light weight, and ease of integration, planar lenses have become attractive as components in the development of novel optical devices. Utilizing the concept of super-oscillation, planar lenses have already shown great potential in the generation of sub-diffraction, or even of super-oscillatory features, in propagating optical waves. In this paper, we propose a binary-phase planar lens with an ultra-long focal length (300λ) for the generation of a 3D hollow spot with a cylindrical vector wave. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate the formation of such a hollow spot with a sub-diffraction transverse size of 0.546λ (smaller than the diffraction limit of 0.5λ/NA, where NA denotes the lens numerical aperture) and a longitudinal size of 1.585λ. The ratio of central minimum intensity to the central ring peak intensity is less than 3.7%. Such a planar lens provides a promising way to achieve tight 3D optical confinement for different uses that might find applications in super-resolution microscopy, nano-lithography, high-density data storage, nano-particle optical manipulation, and nano-optical manufacturing.
23 citations
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TL;DR: The first experimental investigation of nondiffracting beams, with beam spots as small as a few wavelengths, can exist and propagate in free space, is reported.
Abstract: It was recently predicted that nondiffracting beams, with beam spots as small as a few wavelengths, can exist and propagate in free space. We report the first experimental investigation of these beams.
2,919 citations
Journal Article•
2,441 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, exact nonsingular solutions of the scalar-wave equation for beams that are non-diffracting were presented, which means that the intensity pattern in a transverse plane is unaltered by propagating in free space.
Abstract: We present exact, nonsingular solutions of the scalar-wave equation for beams that are nondiffracting. This means that the intensity pattern in a transverse plane is unaltered by propagating in free space. These beams can have extremely narrow intensity profiles with effective widths as small as several wavelengths and yet possess an infinite depth of field. We further show (by using numerical simulations based on scalar diffraction theory) that physically realizable finite-aperture approximations to the exact solutions can also possess an extremely large depth of field.
2,283 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the theoretical foundation of the Bessel beam is described and various experiments that make use of Bessel beams are discussed: these cover a wide range of fields including non-linear optics, where the intense central core of the bessel beam has attracted interest; short pulse non-diffracting fields; atom optics, and optical manipulation where the reconstruction properties of the beam enable new effects to be observed that cannot be seen with Gaussian beams.
Abstract: Diffraction is a cornerstone of optical physics and has implications for the design of all optical systems. The paper discusses the so-called 'non-diffracting' light field, commonly known as the Bessel beam. Approximations to such beams can be experimentally realized using a range of different means. The theoretical foundation of these beams is described and then various experiments that make use of Bessel beams are discussed: these cover a wide range of fields including non-linear optics, where the intense central core of the Bessel beam has attracted interest; short pulse non-diffracting fields; atom optics, where the narrow non-diffracting features of the Bessel beam are able to act as atomic guides and atomic confinement devices and optical manipulation, where the reconstruction properties of the beam enable new effects to be observed that cannot be seen with Gaussian beams. The intensity profile of the Bessel beam may offer routes to investigating statistical physics as well as new techniques for the...
1,173 citations
TL;DR: The axicon autocollimator as discussed by the authors is a projector which projects a straight line of images into space, and it can be used to determine the perpendicularity of a mirror.
Abstract: A search for a universal-focus lens has led to a new class of optical elements. These are called axicons. There are many different kinds of axicons but probably the most important one is a glass cone. It may be either transmitting or reflecting. Axicons form a continuous straight line of images from small sources.One application is in a telescope. The usual spherical objective is replaced by a cone. This axicon telescope is in focus for targets from a foot or so to infinity without the necessity of moving any parts. It can be used to view simultaneously two or more small sources placed along the line of sight.If a source of light is suitably added to the telescope it becomes an autocollimator. Like ordinary autocollimators it can be used to determine the perpendicularity of a mirror. In addition, it can simultaneously act as a telescope for a point target which may be an illuminated pinhole in the mirror.The axicon autocollimator is also a projector which projects a straight line of images into space.
956 citations