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Showing papers on "Diffraction grating published in 2017"


Journal ArticleDOI
20 Jun 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, a reflective metasurface composed of dielectric nano-posts is proposed for diffraction gratings and focusing mirrors with positive, zero, and hyper-negative dispersion.
Abstract: Diffraction gratings disperse light in a rainbow of colors with the opposite order than refractive prisms, a phenomenon known as negative dispersion. While refractive dispersion can be controlled via material refractive index, diffractive dispersion is fundamentally an interference effect dictated by geometry. Here we show that this fundamental property can be altered using dielectric metasurfaces, and we experimentally demonstrate diffractive gratings and focusing mirrors with positive, zero, and hyper-negative dispersion. These optical elements are implemented using a reflective metasurface composed of dielectric nano-posts that provide simultaneous control over phase and its wavelength derivative. In addition, as a first practical application, we demonstrate a focusing mirror that exhibits a five-fold reduction in chromatic dispersion, and thus an almost three-times increase in operation bandwidth compared with a regular diffractive element. This concept challenges the generally accepted dispersive properties of diffractive optical devices and extends their applications and functionalities.

259 citations


Posted Content
25 Jan 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, a reflective metasurface composed of dielectric nano-posts is proposed for diffraction gratings and focusing mirrors with positive, zero, and hyper negative dispersion.
Abstract: Diffraction gratings disperse light in a rainbow of colors with the opposite order than refractive prisms, a phenomenon known as negative dispersion. While refractive dispersion can be controlled via material refractive index, diffractive dispersion is fundamentally an interference effect dictated by geometry. Here we show that this fundamental property can be altered using dielectric metasurfaces, and we experimentally demonstrate diffractive gratings and focusing mirrors with positive, zero, and hyper negative dispersion. These optical elements are implemented using a reflective metasurface composed of dielectric nano-posts that provide simultaneous control over phase and its wavelength derivative. In addition, as a first practical application, we demonstrate a focusing mirror that exhibits a five fold reduction in chromatic dispersion, and thus an almost three times increase in operation bandwidth compared to a regular diffractive element. This concept challenges the generally accepted dispersive properties of diffractive optical devices and extends their applications and functionalities.

156 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel concept for energy redistribution in diffraction gratings and its application in the visible spectrum range, which helps overcome the constraints of ultrahigh angle (above 80°) beam bending is discussed.
Abstract: Wavefront manipulation in metasurfaces typically relies on phase mapping with a finite number of elements. In particular, a discretized linear phase profile may be used to obtain a beam bending functionality. However, discretization limits the applicability of this approach for high angle bending due to the drastic efficiency drop when the phase is mapped by a small number of elements. In this work, we discuss a novel concept for energy redistribution in diffraction gratings and its application in the visible spectrum range, which helps overcome the constraints of ultrahigh angle (above 80°) beam bending. Arranging asymmetric dielectric nanoantennas into diffractive gratings, we show that one can efficiently redistribute the power between the grating orders at will. This is achieved by precise engineering of the scattering pattern of the nanoantennas. The concept is numerically and experimentally demonstrated at visible frequencies using several designs of TiO2 (titanium dioxide) nanoantennas for medium (...

115 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
Tatsuhiko Watanabe1, Masafumi Ayata1, Ueli Koch1, Yuriy Fedoryshyn1, Juerg Leuthold1 
TL;DR: In this paper, a vertical grating coupler with high directionality and low back-reflection was realized using a blazed subwavelength structure, and the measured maximum coupling efficiencies with a standard single-mfiber were −1.5 dB and −2.2 dB for apodized and periodic structures, respectively.
Abstract: Silicon photonic grating couplers are demonstrated featuring a perfect vertical coupling and predicted coupling efficiencies of 87% and 78% with an apodized and a standard periodic structure, respectively. Vertical coupling is usually difficult to be achieved with standard diffraction gratings, since both the forward and backward scattered light meet the Bragg condition alike. In this work a vertical grating coupler which satisfies both high directionality (> 97%) and low back-reflection (< 1%) simultaneously is realized using a blazed sub-wavelength structure. The measured maximum coupling efficiencies with a standard single-mfiber are −1.5 dB and −2.2 dB for apodized and periodic structures, respectively. The suggested structure offers an ultimate solution for compact coupling schemes in Si photonics, since it meets the most important needs of grating couplers, which are directionality, ease of fabrication, and a possibility to vertically couple. The vertical grating coupler are fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator wafer with a 220 nm-thick silicon layer, relying only on a 2-step etching technology.

98 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A novel method of beam steering enables a large field of view and reliable single chip light detection and ranging (lidar) by utilizing a mass-produced digital micromirror device (DMD) using a short pulsed laser and programmable blazed grating.
Abstract: A novel method of beam steering enables a large field of view and reliable single chip light detection and ranging (lidar) by utilizing a mass-produced digital micromirror device (DMD). Using a short pulsed laser, the micromirrors’ rotation is frozen in mid-transition, which forms a programmable blazed grating. The blazed grating efficiently redistributes the light to a single diffraction order, among several. We demonstrated time of flight measurements for five discrete angles using this beam steering method with a nano second 905nm laser and Si avalanche diode. A distance accuracy of < 1 cm over a 1 m distance range, a 48° full field of view, and a measurement rate of 3.34k points/s is demonstrated.

78 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This Letter demonstrates for the first time, the realization of an ultra-directional L-shaped grating coupler, seamlessly fabricated by using 193 nm deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) lithography, and includes a subwavelength index engineered waveguide-to-grating transition that provides an eight-fold reduction of the grating reflectivity.
Abstract: Grating couplers enable position-friendly interfacing of silicon chips by optical fibers. The conventional coupler designs call upon comparatively complex architectures to afford efficient light coupling to sub-micron silicon-on-insulator (SOI) waveguides. Conversely, the blazing effect in double-etched gratings provides high coupling efficiency with reduced fabrication intricacy. In this Letter, we demonstrate for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, the realization of an ultra-directional L-shaped grating coupler, seamlessly fabricated by using 193 nm deep-ultraviolet (deep-UV) lithography. We also include a subwavelength index engineered waveguide-to-grating transition that provides an eight-fold reduction of the grating reflectivity, down to 1% (−20 dB). A measured coupling efficiency of −2.7 dB (54%) is achieved, with a bandwidth of 62 nm. These results open promising prospects for the implementation of efficient, robust, and cost-effective coupling interfaces for sub-micrometric SOI waveguides, as desired for large-volume applications in silicon photonics.

72 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, Tunable optical gratings (TOGs) based on dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) are combined with triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), where the actuated strain of DEA under the drive of TENG can regulate the grating period.

70 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new optical configuration of incoherent digital holography is presented to improve the quality of reconstructed images when the random polarization state of incoherence light is used and to suppress the unmodulated terms of a spatial light modulator.
Abstract: A new optical configuration of incoherent digital holography is presented to improve the quality of reconstructed images when the random polarization state of incoherent light is used. The proposed system improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the holograms by suppressing the unmodulated terms of a spatial light modulator. To generate the self-interference of a quasi-incoherent point-like source, we use a dual-focusing lens with diffraction gratings. The preliminary experimental results confirm the validity of the proposed method by reconstructing two point-like sources generated by a LED light source. When the pixel pitch of the phase-mode SLM is small enough, the off-axis hologram can be generated. The single-shot recording of the incoherent digital holography is expected.

67 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a planar and three dimensional multilayer structures have been developed to tailor the spectral response in a wide wavelength range, and different layered schemes have been explored.
Abstract: Extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray (XUV) multilayer optics have experienced significant development over the past few years, particularly on controlling the spectral characteristics of light for advanced applications like EUV photolithography, space observation, and accelerator- or lab-based XUV experiments. Both planar and three dimensional multilayer structures have been developed to tailor the spectral response in a wide wavelength range. For the planar multilayer optics, different layered schemes are explored. Stacks of periodic multilayers and capping layers are demonstrated to achieve multi-channel reflection or suppression of the reflective properties. Aperiodic multilayer structures enable broadband reflection both in angles and wavelengths, with the possibility of polarization control. The broad wavelength band multilayer is also used to shape attosecond pulses for the study of ultrafast phenomena. Narrowband multilayer monochromators are delivered to bridge the resolution gap between crystals and regular multilayers. High spectral purity multilayers with innovated anti-reflection structures are shown to select spectrally clean XUV radiation from broadband X-ray sources, especially the plasma sources for EUV lithography. Significant progress is also made in the three dimensional multilayer optics, i.e., combining micro- and nanostructures with multilayers, in order to provide new freedom to tune the spectral response. Several kinds of multilayer gratings, including multilayer coated gratings, sliced multilayer gratings, and lamellar multilayer gratings are being pursued for high resolution and high efficiency XUV spectrometers/monochromators, with their advantages and disadvantages, respectively. Multilayer diffraction optics are also developed for spectral purity enhancement. New structures like gratings, zone plates, and pyramids that obtain full suppression of the unwanted radiation and high XUV reflectance are reviewed. Based on the present achievement of the spectral tailoring multilayer optics, the remaining challenges and opportunities for future researches are discussed.

60 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
26 May 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, a three-dimensional ultrafast laser direct nanostructuring of silica glass resulting in multi-layered space-variant dielectric metasurfaces embedded in volume is demonstrated.
Abstract: High-precision three-dimensional ultrafast laser direct nanostructuring of silica glass resulting in multi-layered space-variant dielectric metasurfaces embedded in volume is demonstrated Continuous phase profiles of nearly any optical component are achieved solely by the means of geometric phase Complex designs of half-wave retarders with 90% transmission at 532 nm and >95% transmission at >1 μm, including polarization gratings with efficiency nearing 90% and computer generated holograms with a phase gradient of ∼08π rad/μm, were fabricated A vortex half-wave retarder generating a single beam optical vortex with a tunable orbital angular momentum of up to ±100ℏ is shown The high damage threshold of silica elements enables the simultaneous optical manipulation of a large number of micro-objects using high-power laser beams Thus, the continuous control of torque without altering the intensity distribution was implemented in optical trapping demonstration with a total of 5 W average power, which is ot

52 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A monochromatic binocular waveguide display with uniform illuminance over the expanded exit pupil is developed and the parameters of the gratings are optimized to achieve uniform diffraction efficiency distributions over a broad angular range.
Abstract: Uniform illuminance over the expanded exit pupil is an important requirement for waveguide display systems with a wide field of view (FOV). To address this issue, we develop a monochromatic binocular waveguide display in this paper. Two surface-relief diffraction gratings are designed as in-couplers and out-couplers. The parameters of the gratings are optimized to achieve uniform diffraction efficiency distributions over a broad angular range. The grating couplers enable the system to realize a diagonal FOV of 40°. A freeform surface prism is designed as the projection optics. The diameters of the two exit pupils are 12 mm in the expanding direction at an eye relief of 19 mm.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: First results of a phase-contrast scanning setup with a full FoV of 384 mm × 24 mm show the suitability of this method and investigates theoretically the accuracy needed for a tiling process in all degrees of freedom by applying a simulation approach.
Abstract: X-ray grating-based interferometry promises unique new diagnostic possibilities in medical imaging and materials analysis. To transfer this method from scientific laboratories or small-animal applications to clinical radiography applications, compact setups with a large field of view (FoV) are required. Currently the FoV is limited by the grating area, which is restricted due to the complex manufacturing process. One possibility to increase the FoV is tiling individual grating tiles to create one large area grating mounted on a carrier substrate. We investigate theoretically the accuracy needed for a tiling process in all degrees of freedom by applying a simulation approach. We show how the resulting precision requirements can be met using a custom-built frame for exact positioning. Precise alignment is achieved by comparing the fringe patterns of two neighboring grating tiles in a grating interferometer. With this method, the FoV can be extended to practically any desired length in one dimension. First results of a phase-contrast scanning setup with a full FoV of 384 mm × 24 mm show the suitability of this method.

Journal ArticleDOI
02 Mar 2017-ACS Nano
TL;DR: 3D photonic nanostructures of a stacked ring array were imprinted on acrylate polymer over poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate through holography and lift-off processes to create a microlens array (MLA), which showed efficient bidirectional light focusing and maximum numerical aperture.
Abstract: Flexible imprinted photonic nanostructures that are able to diffract/focus narrow-band light have potential applications in optical lenses, filters, tunable lasers, displays, and biosensing. Nanophotonic structures through holography and roll-to-roll printing may reduce fabrication complexities and expenses and enable mass production. Here, 3D photonic nanostructures of a stacked ring array were imprinted on acrylate polymer (AP) over poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrate through holography and lift-off processes to create a microlens array (MLA). The surface structure of the array consisted of circular nonostepped pyramids, and repeated patterns were in hexagonal arrangements. Stacked-ring-based MLA (SMLA) on a flexible AP-PET substrate showed efficient bidirectional light focusing and maximum numerical aperture (NA = 0.60) with a reasonable filling factor. The nanostructures produced a well-ordered hexagonally focused diffraction pattern in the far field, and power intensities were measured through angle-resolved experiments. The variation of nanostep dimensions (width and height) and the number of steps resulted in different photonic bandgaps, and the arrays produced distance-dependent narrow-band light focusing. The validation of the SMLA was demonstrated through the text, image, and hologram projection experiments. It is anticipated that imprinted bidirectional SMLA over flexible substrates may find applications in optical systems, displays, and portable sensors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A Si photonic crystal slow-light waveguide with a diffraction grating is used, which radiates the guided mode to free space and steers a fan beam by sweeping the wavelength, and slow light enhances the steering range without degrading the beam quality, resulting in more resolution points.
Abstract: Compact non-mechanical beam steering devices are desired not only for current common applications, but also for advanced applications such as light detection and ranging. We use a Si photonic crystal slow-light waveguide with a diffraction grating, which radiates the guided mode to free space and steers a fan beam by sweeping the wavelength. Due to its large angular dispersion, slow light enhances the steering range without degrading the beam quality, resulting in more resolution points. We fabricated 600 μm devices and observed a 23° steering range and a beam divergence of 0.23°, which resulted in 100 resolution points.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cold atoms trapped in one-dimensional optical lattices and driven to the four-level N configuration are exploited for achieving an electromagnetically induced grating with parity-time-symmetry, which exhibits unidirectional diffraction patterns.
Abstract: Cold atoms trapped in one-dimensional optical lattices and driven to the four-level N configuration are exploited for achieving an electromagnetically induced grating with parity-time-symmetry. This nontrivial grating exhibits unidirectional diffraction patterns, e.g., with incident probe photons diffracted into either negative or positive angles, depending on the sign relation between spatially modulated absorption and dispersion coefficients. Such asymmetric light diffraction is a result of the out-of-phase interplay of amplitude and phase modulations of transmission function and can be easily tuned via optical depth, probe detuning, pump Rabi frequencies, etc.

Patent
31 Jul 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, a plate light guide is configured to guide light beams at a nonzero propagation angle, a multibeam diffraction grating configured to couple out a portion of the guided light beams as a plurality of light beams having different principal angular directions representing the different 3D views, and light valves configured to modulate the differently directed, coupled-out light beams.
Abstract: Three-dimensional (3D) electronic displays provide different 3D views and employ one or both of an array of multibeam diffraction gratings arranged in offset rows and light valves having color filters. The displays include a plate light guide configured to guide light beams at a non-zero propagation angle, a multibeam diffraction grating configured to couple out a portion of the guided light beams as a plurality of light beams having different principal angular directions representing the different 3D views, and light valves configured to modulate the differently directed, coupled-out light beams. The multibeam diffraction grating may be a member of the array arranged in offset rows and the display may further include light valves having color filters. Alternately, the light valves include color filters and the display may further include the array of multibeam diffraction gratings arranged in offset rows.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: For the first time, the combination of dual-etch and apodization design approaches are demonstrated which may achieve a coupling efficiency of 85% (-0.7 dB) on fibre-chip grating couplers operating around 1310 nm.
Abstract: We present our recent work on fibre-chip grating couplers operating around 1310 nm. For the first time, we demonstrate the combination of dual-etch and apodization design approaches which may achieve a coupling efficiency of 85% (-0.7 dB). Subwavelength structures were employed to modify the coupling strength of the grating. -1.9 dB efficiency was measured from a first set of fabricated structures.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a novel long-period fiber grating via periodically embedding no-core fiber (NCF) has been achieved, which can exhibit an extremely high loss resonant dip (>20dB).
Abstract: A novel long-period fiber grating via periodically embedding no-core fiber (NCF) has been achieved. The 11-period SMF-NCF-SMF-long period fiber grating (SNS-LPG) can exhibit an extremely high loss resonant dip (>20 dB). Theoretical analysis shows good agreement with the measured transmission spectrum. We investigated both refractive index and temperature sensitivity of SNS-LPG. The fabricated sensor achieve an average wavelength sensitivity of 141.837 nm/RIU in the range of 1.333–1.400 RIU, and exhibit lower temperature sensitivity (−6.43 pm/ °C and 0.005 dB/ °C).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The design and implementation of a compact fiber-optics-based heterodyne combined normal and transverse displacement interferometer is discussed, using a 1550 nm wavelength 2 W fiber-coupled laser and single mode fibers to transport light to and from the target.
Abstract: While Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) has become a common diagnostic tool for the measurement of normal component of particle motion in shock wave experiments, this technique has not yet been modified for the measurement of combined normal and transverse motion, as needed in oblique plate impact experiments. In this paper, we discuss the design and implementation of a compact fiber-optics-based heterodyne combined normal and transverse displacement interferometer. Like the standard PDV, this diagnostic tool is assembled using commercially available telecommunications hardware and uses a 1550 nm wavelength 2 W fiber-coupled laser, an optical focuser, and single mode fibers to transport light to and from the target. Two additional optical probes capture first-order beams diffracted from a reflective grating at the target free-surface and deliver the beams past circulators and a coupler where the signal is combined to form a beat frequency. The combined signal is then digitized and analyzed to determine the transverse component of the particle motion. The maximum normal velocity that can be measured by this system is limited by the equivalent transmission bandwidth (3.795 GHz) of the combined detector, amplifier, and digitizer and is estimated to be ∼2.9 km/s. Sample symmetric oblique plate-impact experiments are performed to demonstrate the capability of this diagnostic tool in the measurement of the combined normal and transverse displacement particle motion.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the display omitted transmission type diffraction gratings were fabricated from diamond crystal for high energy x-ray experiments, with structure sizes ranging from few tens of nanometres up to micrometres and aspect ratio of up to 20.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The application of the photoacoustic effect to trace gas detection is described, using an optical grating that moves at the sound speed inside of a resonator equipped with a resonant piezoelectric crystal detector, yielding detection limits in the parts-per-quadrillion range.
Abstract: The amplitude of the photoacoustic effect for an optical source moving at the sound speed in a one-dimensional geometry increases linearly in time without bound in the linear acoustic regime. Here, use of this principle is described for trace detection of gases, using two frequency-shifted beams from a CO2 laser directed at an angle to each other to give optical fringes that move at the sound speed in a cavity with a longitudinal resonance. The photoacoustic signal is detected with a high-[Formula: see text], piezoelectric crystal with a resonance on the order of [Formula: see text] kHz. The photoacoustic cell has a design analogous to a hemispherical laser resonator and can be adjusted to have a longitudinal resonance to match that of the detector crystal. The grating frequency, the length of the resonator, and the crystal must all have matched frequencies; thus, three resonances are used to advantage to produce sensitivity that extends to the parts-per-quadrillion level.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a laser-driven plasma density gratings in underdense plasma are shown to act as photonic crystals for high power laser pulses, and the gratings are created by counterpropagating laser beams that trap electrons, followed by ballistic ion motion.
Abstract: Laser-driven plasma density gratings in underdense plasma are shown to act as photonic crystals for high power lasers. The gratings are created by counterpropagating laser beams that trap electrons, followed by ballistic ion motion. This leads to strong periodic plasma density modulations with a lifetime on the order of picoseconds. The grating structure is interpreted as a plasma photonic crystal time-dependent property, e.g., the photonic band gap width. In Maxwell–Vlasov and particle-in-cell simulations it is demonstrated that the photonic crystals may act as a frequency filter and mirror for ultra-short high-power laser pulses.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An improved laser self-mixing grating interferometer (SMGI) with auto-collimation design which can avoid the disturbance from the light feedback of the zero-order diffraction beam is demonstrated.
Abstract: In this paper, we demonstrated an improved laser self-mixing grating interferometer (SMGI) with auto-collimation design which can avoid the disturbance from the light feedback of the zero-order diffraction beam. In order to obtain higher optical subdivision, SMGI with multiple-diffraction is implemented. Both theoretical analysis and experimental work show that the proposed system for displacement measurement can achieve high sensitivity and low measurement uncertainty. Using the proposed system, different forms of micro-displacement signals applied on the target (grating) have been reconstructed with accuracy of a few nanometers. The work presented in this paper provides a good way to achieve robust and high precision measurement with compact system configuration.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of thin micro-optics components with nanostructured microreliefs intended to control the polarization and phase of laser light is presented, including transmission and reflection subwavelength diffraction gratings characterized by spatially −varying groove directions and fill factors.
Abstract: We review thin micro-optics components with nanostructured microreliefs intended to control the polarization and phase of laser light. These components include transmission and reflection subwavelength diffraction gratings characterized by spatially −varying groove directions and fill factors, with the microrelief period and depth remaining approximately unchanged. In the visible spectrum, the microrelief features may vary in size from dozens to hundreds of nanometers. Segmented diffractive micropolarizers for linear to radial/azimuthal polarization conversion and subwavelength microlenses for tightly focusing the laser light are discussed in detail. Examples of particular micropolarizers and microlenses fabricated in amorphous silicon films are also given.

Proceedings ArticleDOI
29 Aug 2017
TL;DR: In this article, criticalangle transmission (CAT) gratings combine the advantages of blazed reflection gratings (high efficiency, use of higher diffraction orders) with those of conventional transmission gratings, resulting in minimal mission resource requirements, while greatly improving figures of merit.
Abstract: Soft x-ray spectroscopy with high resolving power (R = λ/Δλ) and large effective area (A) addresses numerous unanswered science questions about the physical laws that lead to the structure of our universe. In the soft x-ray band R > 1000 can currently only be achieved with diffraction grating-based spectroscopy. Criticalangle transmission (CAT) gratings combine the advantages of blazed reflection gratings (high efficiency, use of higher diffraction orders) with those of conventional transmission gratings (relaxed alignment tolerances and temperature requirements, transparent at higher energies, low mass), resulting in minimal mission resource requirements, while greatly improving figures of merit. Diffraction efficiency > 33% and R > 10, 000 have been demonstrated for CAT gratings. Last year the technology has been certified at Technology Readiness Level 4 based on a probe class mission concept. The Explorer-scale (A > 450 cm2 , R > 2500) grating spectroscopy Arcus mission can be built with today's CAT grating technology and has been selected in the current Explorer round for a Phase A concept study. Its figure of merit for the detection of weak absorption lines will be an order of magnitude larger than current instruments on Chandra and XMM-Newton. Further CAT grating technology development and improvements in the angular resolution of x-ray optics can provide another order of magnitude improvement in performance, as is envisioned for the X-ray Surveyor/Lynx mission concept currently under development for input into the 2020 Decadal Survey. For Arcus we have tested CAT gratings in a spectrometer setup in combination with silicon pore optics (SPO) and obtained resolving power results that exceed Arcus requirements before and after environmental testing of the gratings. We have recently fabricated the largest (32 mm x 32 mm) CAT gratings to date, and plan to increase grating size further. We mounted two of these large gratings to frames and aligned them in the roll direction using a laser-based technique. Simultaneous x-ray illumination of both gratings with an SPO module demonstrated that we can exceed Arcus grating-to-grating alignment requirements without x rays.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The finite-difference time-domain simulation results revealed an enhanced electric field in the P3HT:PCBM layer, especially in the BD-R OSC devices.
Abstract: In this work, we studied the performance enhancement of organic thin-film solar cells (OSCs) originating from the presence of diffraction gratings on the surface of the active layer. Two types of diffraction gratings, periodic gratings (Blu-ray disc recordable: BD-R) and quasi-random gratings (Blu-ray disc: BD), were employed as master templates for grating structures. The grating structures were introduced to the surfaces of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) films, which were the active layers of the solar cells. The addition of the grating structures led to an increase of light absorption in the absorption region of P3HT:PCBM induced by light scattering. Furthermore, the grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance generated additional light absorption peaks. With illumination of non-polarized light at a normal incident angle, the short-circuit current densities of the BD-R and BD solar cells improved by 11.05% and 10.6%, respectively. Efficiency improvements of 19.28% and 3.21% were also observed for the BD-R and BD devices, respectively. Finally, the finite-difference time-domain simulation results revealed an enhanced electric field in the P3HT:PCBM layer, especially in the BD-R OSC devices.

Patent
19 Oct 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, a plate light guide and a polarization retarder are used to guide a beam of light at a non-zero propagation angle, where the light beam includes a first polarization component and a second polarization component.
Abstract: A polarization-mixing light guide includes a plate light guide and a polarization retarder within the plate light guide. The light guide is to guide a beam of light at a non-zero propagation angle. The light beam includes a first polarization component and a second polarization component. The polarization retarder is to redistribute the first and second polarization components of the guided light beam into predetermined combinations of the polarization components. The light guide is to preferentially scatter out a portion of the guided light beam having the first polarization component. A three-dimensional (3-D) electronic display includes an array of multibeam diffraction gratings at a surface of the plate light guide to preferentially couple out the first polarization component of the guided light beam as a plurality of light beams having different principal angular directions.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: By drilling a hole in the fins of a grating as an effective electron channel, the oscillation dipole happens in two dimensions here, instead of one dimension, and the Smith-Purcell radiation power is ten times more than the case in which the electron passes very close to the grating surface.
Abstract: Smith-Purcell radiation is emitted when an electron passes above the surface of a metallic grating. Its mechanism can be explained with Huygens' principle by the radiation of a moving oscillating dipole, which is formed by the moving charge and its image in the metallic grating. Here, an alternative way is presented to enhance the THz Smith-Purcell radiation. By drilling a hole in the fins of a grating as an effective electron channel, the oscillation dipole happens in two dimensions here, instead of one dimension. As a result, the Smith-Purcell radiation power is ten times more than the case in which the electron passes very close to the grating surface. This method is expected to improve the efficiency of the devices which are based on the Smith-Purcell radiation.

Patent
04 Jan 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, the emergent light quantity in a waveguide grating is adjusted by controlling the change of the refractive index of a liquid crystal layer to achieve gray level display.
Abstract: The embodiment of the invention provides a display device and a display method thereof and relates to the technical field of display. The emergent light quantity in a waveguide grating is adjusted by controlling the change of the refractive index of a liquid crystal layer to achieve gray level display. The display device comprises a first substrate base plate, a second substrate base plate and a liquid crystal layer located between the first substrate base plate and the second substrate base plate, wherein the first substrate base plate and the second substrate base plate are arranged oppositely. The display device further comprises a waveguide grating between a liquid crystal layer and the first substrate base plate and a collimation light source located on the side face of the waveguide layer, wherein the waveguide grating consists of a waveguide layer and an optical grating layer located on the surface of the side, facing the liquid crystal layer, of the waveguide layer, wherein the optical grating layer is in contact with the liquid crystal layer, the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer changes between the maximum refractive index and the minimum refractive index under the driving signal control of the display device. The refractive index of the optical grating layer is greater than or equal to the minimum refractive index of the liquid crystal layer and is smaller than or equal to the maximum refractive index of the liquid crystal layer.

Journal ArticleDOI
08 Dec 2017
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors demonstrate the fiber chirped pulse amplification of a short wavelength mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) at 1785 nm.
Abstract: Exploiting the promising third near-infrared optical window (1600–1870 nm) for deep bioimaging is largely underdeveloped, mostly because of the lack of stable femtosecond laser sources in leveraging the less scattering loss and locally reduced water absorption. In this letter, we demonstrate the fiber chirped pulse amplification of a short wavelength mode-locked thulium-doped fiber laser (TDFL) at 1785 nm. The mode-locked TDFL (via nonlinear polarization rotation) operates stably at the soliton pulsing regime with a fundamental repetition rate of 46.375 MHz. Utilizing a two-stage fiber amplifier incorporated along the pulse chirping fiber, the power of the laser pulse is boosted up to 690 mW. After dechirping with a diffraction grating pair, laser pulse with a duration of 445 fs, pulse energy of 5.7 nJ, and peak power of 12 kW is achieved. Higher power can be achieved by exploiting low-loss high power fiber components at this special wavelength range.