Article
Optics
Yue Yin, Yang Yang, Ting Li, Yuan Zhou, Yan Wu, Sijia Huang, Huihui Huang
Summary: In this study, liquid crystal-based moiré lenses with wide and tunable focal lengths were experimentally demonstrated using direct-writing photoalignment. The lenses have a large range of refractive power and high diffraction efficiency, making them suitable for high-dynamic-resolution optical edge detection without axial shift or component substitution. This technology shows great potential for adaptive and compact optical systems.
Article
Optics
Stefano L. Oscurato, Francesco Reda, Marcella Salvatore, Fabio Borbone, Pasqualino Maddalena, Antonio Ambrosio
Summary: This study overcomes the fundamental limitation of static optical devices by introducing shapeshifting diffractive optical elements written on erasable photoresponsive material to provide real-time changes in optical functionalities. A new lithographic configuration is developed for writing/erasing cycles of aligned optical elements in the light path, showing the realization of complex diffractive gratings and a reconfigurable diffractive lens in the light path. The approach opens new possibilities for on-demand reconfiguration in emerging areas of photonics.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Huaping Zang, Zhuanglei Miao, Mengguang Wang, Quanping Fan, Lai Wei, Chuanke Wang, Weimin Zhou, Yilei Hua, Leifeng Cao, Xinlian Xue, Haizhong Guo
Summary: A new optical element, Binary Single Focused Square Spiral Zone Plates (BSSZPs), is proposed in this study, which can simultaneously generate optical vortices with unique square symmetry and eliminate interference from higher-order foci. This innovative design is expected to improve the performance of optical image processing and alignment systems.
SCIENCE CHINA-PHYSICS MECHANICS & ASTRONOMY
(2022)
Article
Optics
Wenbin Feng, Zhiqiang Liu, Mao Ye
Summary: By designing the shape of the indium tin oxide electrode and controlling the driving voltage range, a cylindrical liquid crystal lens with near-ideal phase profile was successfully designed and manufactured.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Wenren Li, Pusheng Liu, Chaobin Lu, Fengjiang Peng, Heng Gao, Yuanjie Yang
Summary: The study demonstrates a simple method to generate controllable optical ferris wheel using spiral array masks, and explores the rotation angle of optical ferris wheel. The technique shows advantages of wide operation bandwidth and flexible manipulation, with potential applications in optical manipulation.
IEEE PHOTONICS JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Yang Cheng, Jie Cao, Xin Tang, Qun Hao
Summary: This review article focuses on state-of-the-art research on novel optical zoom imaging systems using adaptive liquid lenses. It introduces the principles, configurations, and working principles of adaptive liquid lenses in these systems, reviews representative applications, and discusses the opportunities and challenges. The aim is to attract more attention to further develop the next-generation optical zoom imaging systems.
BIOINSPIRATION & BIOMIMETICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qi Wu, Hongxia Zhang, Dagong Jia, Tiegen Liu
Summary: This article reviews tunable liquid devices, including isotropic liquid and anisotropic liquid crystal devices. The tuning principles and methods are explained in detail for each type of liquid. Recent progress in adaptive lens, beam controller, beam filter, iris, resonator, and display devices is presented. The limitations and future prospects of current liquid devices are also discussed.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Jose Eduardo Mejia, Tomohiro Tsuji, Shigeomi Chono
Summary: We propose a micromanipulator system using the interfacial force between liquid crystals and isotropic phases to trap microparticles. The smectic-isotropic interfacial force of a smectic liquid crystal (12CB) was found to be stronger than the nematic-isotropic interfacial force of 5CB and 8CB. We demonstrated that the smectic-isotropic interface of 12CB was strong enough to capture tungsten carbide particles, with an interfacial force approximately 13 times stronger than 5CB and 8CB. This opens up possibilities for the development of new manipulation or actuation systems.
SENSORS AND ACTUATORS A-PHYSICAL
(2023)
Article
Optics
Yuzhong Wang, Axiang Yu, Yayun Cheng, Jiaran Qi
Summary: This study proposes the matrix diffractive deep neural networks (M-D2NNs) to merge trainable polarization modulation neurons into all-optical diffractive deep neural networks (D2NNs). Three polarization multiplexing meta-devices with advanced functionalities are successfully implemented. This provides a new strategy for the evolution of all-optical networks towards multi-task integration and more advanced functional devices.
LASER & PHOTONICS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Optics
Leonhard Lenk, Stefan Sinzinger
Summary: Focus-tunable lenses are widely used in optical systems, but correcting chromatic aberrations is still challenging. A combination of lenses and correctors can compensate for chromatic aberrations over a large refractive power range without significantly increasing the system's length.
OPTICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Justin S. Woods, Xiaoqian M. Chen, Rajesh Chopdekar, Barry Farmer, Claudio Mazzoli, Roland Koch, Anton S. Tremsin, Wen Hu, Andreas Scholl, Steve Kevan, Stuart Wilkins, Wai-Kwong Kwok, Lance E. De Long, Sujoy Roy, J. Todd Hastings
Summary: Artificial spin ices with double edge dislocations can impart orbital angular momentum to scattered x rays, enabling selective probes of electronic and magnetic properties. The topological charge of the defect differs with respect to the structural and magnetic order, allowing for reconfigurable x-ray optics.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Huaping Zang, Zhuanglei Miao, Erjun Liang, Yongjie Li, Quanping Fan, Lai Wei, Weimin Zhou, Leifeng Cao
Summary: A new vortex lens called quasi-random-dot-array binary spiral zone plates (QBSZPs) is reported for producing a single-focus phase singularity. The key idea of the QBSZPs is to achieve a sinusoidal transmittance by arranging quantum dot arrays in two dimensions. The higher-order foci in conventional spiral zone plates (SZPs) are effectively suppressed with the QBSZPs. The focusing performance of the QBSZPs is influenced by the ratio of primitives' circumcircle diameter to the outermost zone width.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICS D-APPLIED PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Oriel Mendoza-yero
Summary: A surface-pixeled convergent lens with arbitrary modulation of amplitude and phase along the depth of focus is introduced using the scalar theory of diffraction. This complex diffractive lens is computer-generated from an exact solution of the inverse focal shaping problem obtained by utilizing the Fresnel diffraction integral. The technique of spatial multiplexing is used to encode the complex diffractive lens into a phase optical element that can be dynamically implemented using a commercial liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. The optical surface of this lens, which can generate both a single axial focus and multiple parallel foci, exhibits neither linear nor rotational symmetry but rather phase jumps between pixels.
Article
Optics
Wei Jia, Rajesh Menon, Berardi Sensale-Rodriguez
Summary: This paper discusses flat programmable multi-level diffractive lenses enabled by phase change materials. The lenses can effectively shift the focus by altering the phase of the material. They exhibit good performance and have potential applications in various fields.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tibin Zeng, Kuangdi Xue, Yingjie Zhou, Xiangyu Jiang, Fan Fan, Shuangchun Wen
Summary: Multi-functional diffraction gratings are widely used in laser processing, medicine, beam manipulation, and other fields. However, current methods face challenges in fabricating diffraction gratings with controllable and arbitrary diffraction intensity, multiple phase distribution, and polarization of the output. In this paper, we propose a new phase mixing algorithm based on random binary matrix and provide a theoretical foundation and experimental realization of the proposed scheme. Through the experiments with phase-mixing devices fabricated using the new algorithm, the relationship between light intensity, polarization, phase, and the algorithm was verified. Our approach offers an innovative idea for the research of liquid crystal phase mixing devices, enabling the realization of controllable diffraction orders.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aleksandra Kalbarczyk, Noureddine Bennis, Jakub Herman, Leszek R. Jaroszewicz, Przemyslaw Kula
Summary: The paper analyzed the performance of the frequency tunable liquid crystal mixture 5005 and its unique behavior, demonstrating diverse electro-optical properties. This material has high birefringence and high dielectric anisotropy, with a special frequency-controlled phase modulation effect.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Pascuala Garcia-Martinez, Ignacio Moreno, Maria del Mar Sanchez-Lopez, Jordi Gomis, Pedro Martinez, Aaron Cofre
Summary: The optical system presented in this work utilizes liquid-crystal on silicon spatial light modulators to spectrally filter a supercontinuum laser source, allowing dynamic spectrum control from a computer. This new system is capable of independently controlling visible and near infrared spectra, providing significant assistance for biological imaging applications.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Optics
Albert Van Eeckhout, Jose J. Gil, Enrique Garcia-Caurel, Javier Garcia Romero, Razvigor Ossikovski, Ignacio San Jose, Ignacio Moreno, Juan Campos, Angel Lizana
Summary: This article explores the link between depolarization measures and the physical nature and structure of material media. By using two complementary sets of depolarizing metrics, a complete description of the integral depolarizing properties of a sample can be achieved, offering new tools and understanding for the study and analysis of depolarizing properties of material media.
Article
Optics
Ignacio Moreno, Jeffrey A. Davis, Benjamin K. Gutierrez, Maria M. Sanchez-Lopez, Don M. Cottrell
Summary: The new type of optical convolver / optical correlator presented in the study encodes higher orders by obtaining higher powers of a properly designed hologram. This can be achieved by recalculating higher orders of the amplitude and phase hologram in a standard spatial light modulator (SLM) or utilizing a phase-only hologram and exploiting the properties of an SLM with extended phase modulation range. Experimental results confirm the theory in both cases.
OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Optics
N. Bennis, T. Jankowski, P. Morawiak, A. Spadlo, D. C. Zografopoulos, J. M. Sanchez-Pena, J. M. Lopez-Higuera, J. F. Algorri
Summary: In this work, a technique to generate aspherical liquid crystal lenses with positive and negative optical power is experimentally demonstrated. The technique utilizes micro-metric electrode with variable spatial size as the main enabling element. By gradually decreasing resistance and uniformly distributing voltage, the desired phase profiles are achieved, resulting in parabolic profiles for both positive and negative optical powers.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Esther Nabadda, Pascuala Garcia-Martinez, Maria del Mar Sanchez-Lopez, Ignacio Moreno
Summary: In this study, we evaluate the reconstruction of complex-valued holograms displayed on a phase-only spatial light modulator (SLM) using phase-shifting interferometry (PSI). The interferometer has no vibration due to its common-path polarization arrangement based on the SLM, which is used for both displaying the hologram and applying phase-shifting values. The continuous phase modulation provided by the SLM allows the use of PSI with arbitrary phase bias values.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. Bennis, T. Jankowski, O. Strzezysz, A. Pakua, D. C. Zografopoulos, P. Perkowski, J. M. Sanchez-Pena, J. M. Lopez-Higuera, J. F. Algorri
Summary: This work presents the application of an experimental nematic liquid crystal (LC) mixture in a large aperture lens. The LC material, composed of terphenyl and biphenyl derivatives compounds, exhibits high birefringence and low viscosity. The excellent properties of this LC mixture make it of interest for lenses and optical devices in both visible and infrared regions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Optics
Esther Nabadda, Noureddine Bennis, Michal Czerwinski, Aleksandra Walewska, Leszek R. Jaroszewicz, Maria del Mar Sanchez-Lopez, Ignacio Moreno
Summary: In this work, a ferroelectric liquid crystal (FLC) modulator with a large switching rotation angle close to 90 degrees is fabricated and characterized. The modulator acts as a switchable wave-plate with an in-plane rotation of the principal axis under bipolar voltage. The device behaves as a binary pi phase modulator independently of the input state of polarization in the ideal situation of half-wave retardance. Physico-chemical properties of the liquid crystalline mixture used to fabricate the FLC modulator with such a large switching angle are provided. The device optical properties are characterized, and the polarization-independent pi phase shift is demonstrated using an adapted Young's type interferometer.
OPTICS AND LASERS IN ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Optics
Esther Nabadda, Maria Del Mar Sanchez-Lopez, Pascuala Garcia-Martinez, Ignacio Moreno
Summary: A technique using a liquid-crystal spatial light modulator (LC-SLM) is utilized to quantitatively evaluate the intensity and phase of diffraction orders generated by tailored phase gratings. The setup is converted into a polarization common-path interferometer by rotating a polarizer, allowing a phase-shifting interferometry algorithm to retrieve the phase of the diffraction orders. The advantage and simplicity of the technique are demonstrated by experimentally testing various tailored designs with controlled phase shifts between diffraction orders.
Article
Optics
David Marco, Maria Del Mar Sanchez-Lopez, Carlos Hernandez-Garcia, Ignacio Moreno
Summary: In this work, the density matrix formalism is used to describe vector beams and spatial modes with orbital angular momentum. The mapping between the polarization, higher-order, and orbital angular momentum Poincare spheres is comprehensively described. The study shows that vector and scalar modes can be obtained by superimposing orthogonal modes lying on the surface of the corresponding sphere. Experimental results validate the theoretical interpretation, demonstrating the importance of extending the degree of polarization concept to vector and OAM beams.
Article
Optics
Pascuala Garcia-Martinez, Ignacio Moreno
Summary: This study presents a new optical system for polarization image processing using geometric-phase lenses. These lenses are half-wave plates with a quadratic relationship between the orientation of the fast axis and the radial coordinate. They split an input collimated beam into a converging beam and a diverging beam with opposite circular polarizations. This coaxial polarization selectivity introduces a new degree of freedom in optical processing systems, which is useful for imaging and filtering applications that require polarization sensitivity.
Article
Optics
Jeffrey A. Davis, Everett D. Wolfe, Ignacio Moreno, Don M. Cottrell
Summary: This study reexamines a simple technique for encoding complex amplitude information onto a phase-only spatial light modulator. By varying the diffraction efficiency in a 2D grating, complex beam reconstruction is achieved, although the fringing effect in current LCOS technology affects experimental realization.