Design of highly nonlinear dispersion flattened hexagonal photonic crystal fibers for dental optical coherence tomography applications

In this paper, we propose a highly nonlinear dispersion flattened hexagonal photonic crystal fiber (HNDF-HPCF) with nonlinear coefficients as large as 57.5W⁻¹ km⁻¹ at 1.31 μm wavelength for dental optical coherence tomography (OCT) applications. This HNDF-HPCF offers not only large nonlinear coefficient but also very flat dispersion slope and very low confinement losses. Using these characteristics of our proposed PCF, it is shown through simulations by using finite difference method with an anisotropic perfectly matched boundary layer that this PCF offers the efficient supercontinuum (SC) generation for dental OCT applications at 1.31 μm wavelength using a picosecond pulse easily produced by commercially available less expensive laser sources. Coherent length of light source using SC is found 10 μm and the spatial resolutions in the depth direction for dental applications of OCT are found about 6.1 μm for enamel and 6.5 μm for dentin.     

A vision chip with column-level amplification of optical data signals for indoor optical wireless local area networks

We present a vision chip architecture with column-level photo-amplification of optical data signals for optical wireless local area networks (LANs) to reduce the pixel area. Based on the architecture, we have fabricated a prototype vision chip in a standard 0.8 μm bipolar complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (BiCMOS) technology. The device offers position detection of other optical transceivers in the LAN and 4-ch concurrent high-speed optical data acquisition. A data rate of 400 Mbps was demonstrated. The pixel size was 125 μm square, which can be shrunk to smaller than around 60 μm square in 0.35 μm or more advanced BiCMOS or CMOS technologies.     

Nonmechanical Optical Manipulation of Microparticle Using Spatial Light Modulator

A spatial light modulator (SLM) is introduced to an optical manipulation system. The real-time reconfigurable feature of the SLM makes it possible to perform an optical manipulation of microparticles without mechanical movements of optical parts. A liquid crystal SLM incorporated in the system forms a Fresnel zone plate (FZP). The beam spot generated by the FZP is imaged on a sample solution by reduction optics. A microparticle in the sample solution is trapped by the beam and manipulated by changing the addressing position of the FZP onto the SLM from a computer. The nonmechanical optical manipulation of microparticles is demonstrated for the first time.     

Rotation rate of a three-wing rotor illuminated by upward-directed focused beam in optical tweezers

The optical torque and the trapping position (focal point) in optical tweezers are analyzed for upward-directed focused laser illumination using a ray optics model, considering that laser light is incident at not only the lower surface but also the side surface of a 3-wing rotor. The viscous drag force due to the pressure and the shearing stress on all surfaces of the rotor is evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. The rotation rate is simulated in water by balancing the optical torque with the drag force, resulting in 500 rpm for an SU-8 rotor with 20 μm diameter at a laser power of 200 mW. The trapping position is estimated to be 7.6 μm in the rotor with an upward-directed laser at 200 mW via an objective lens having a numerical aperture of 1.4. Both the rotation rate and the trapping position agree well with the values obtained in the experiment.     

Low-threshold mid-infrared optical parametric oscillation in periodically poled LiNbO3 synchronously pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser

We report the generation of tunable high-repetition-rate optical pulses in the mid-infrared using synchronously pumped parametric oscillation in periodically poled LiNbO₃ (PPLN). Using a Kerr-lens-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser as the pump source and a PPLN crystal incorporating grating periods of 21.0–22.4 μm, we have achieved wavelength conversion in the -–4 6μm spectral range in the mid-infrared. The use of a semi-monolithic cavity design and hemispherical focusing has permitted pulse generation in the strong idler absorption region of PPLN, resulting in a simple, compact, all-solid-state configuration with a pump power threshold as low as 17 mW and mid-infrared idler powers of up to 64 mW at 9% extraction efficiency. Signal output powers of up to 280 mW at 35% extraction efficiency are available over the -–1.004 1.140μm spectral range at 80.5 MHz and pulse repetition rates at harmonics of the fundamental frequency up to 322 MHz have also been obtained. Received: 5 December 2000 / Revised version: 23 January 2001 / Published online: 27 April 2001     

具有存储功能的衍射图像光刻系统的研制

研制了一种在衍射光变图像器件上进行信息存储的新型数字化激光光刻系统。采用空间光调制器作图形自动输入,双远心投影成像系统在光刻记录面上缩微图形。通过光栅干涉光学头对记录面上的微图形进行干涉调制,使微图形上产生干涉条纹,条纹空间频率范围为500-1200lp／mm。在光刻胶干版上的存储实验表明,在衍射光变图像上的单角度存储信息密度大于3．7Mbit／cm^2。改变干涉条纹取向、条纹间隔和需要存储的图形,光刻系统可实现信息的旋转复用存储。上述光刻系统将会在防伪和衍射光变图像器件制造领域有良好应用。     

Analysis of optical crosstalk within optoelectronic integrated circuits including lasers and photodetectors

Optical crosstalk from a 1.3 μm laser to a 1.55 μm photodiode on a single InP substrate, and its suppression within 1.3 μm/1.5 μm Y-junction transceiver OEICs, has been analyzed experimentally. The results indicate that the optical crosstalk suppression is limited by the accumulated light in the OEIC substrate coming mainly from the spontaneous emission of the integrated laser and from stray light at the laser–waveguide butt joint interface. For OEICs, integrating lasers and photodetectors, the achievable optical intra-chip crosstalk at present will be in the range of 30–40 dB at the required small die dimensions. Received: 16 May 2001 / / Published online: 23 October 2001     

High-efficiency,high-repetition-rate,temperature-tuning optical parametric oscillator based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate

We report a compact and viable source of high-efficiency, high-repetition-rate, temperature-tuning, mid-IR optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on periodically poled MgO-doped lithium niobate (PPMgOLN) pumped by a homemade high power AOM Q-switched Nd:YVO₄ laser centered at 1.064 μm. With an optimal plane-concave resonator configuration, average output power of 5.7 W at 2.73 μm was obtained when the pump power was 25 W at the repetition rate of 80 kHz. The conversion efficiency from the 1.064 μm laser to the 2.73 μm laser was 22.8%. Temperature tuning of the OPO yielded a signal wavelength range from 1.67 to 1.75 μm and an idler wavelength in the range of 2.72 to 2.92 μm.     

Multimode optical fiber demultiplexer-star coupler using a single gradient-index-rod lens and a multi-facet grating

An optical fiber multi-function device consisting of a single gradient-index-rod lens and a multi-facet blazed reflection grating is proposed to simultaneously realize functions of wavelength demultiplexing and optical signal distribution in a multimode optical fiber transmission system. We analyzed the demultiplexing characteristics and the tolerance of optical components using the ray trace method. This device can realize not only low loss optical signal distribution but also offers improved demultiplexing characteristics in comparison with the previously proposed demultiplexer-multiposition switch. The following characteristics are expected from the design using commercially available optical components: a working band of 0.64–0.88 μm, channel separation of 34–36 nm, 3 dB bandwidth of 27–28 nm, channel cross-talk of less than - 40 dB and minimum excess insertion loss of 0.9–2.1 dB.     

Pulsed optical parametric oscillators with intracavity optical parametric amplification: a critical study

It is known that the idler conversion efficiency of optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) can be increased by adding a second nonlinear crystal in the cavity. This crystal is pumped by the signal and acts as an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) for the idler. However, this technique unavoidably increases the oscillation threshold because of additional losses and increased build-up time due to cavity lengthening. In this paper, we investigate both theoretically and experimentally the benefits and drawbacks of this so called OPO–OPA configuration versus the singly resonant OPO (SRO) configuration. Calculations are found to be in agreement with an experimental study of a SRO and an OPO–OPA operating near 3.4 μm both pumped by a 90-mJ 27-ns Nd:YAG laser. Our study reveals that the OPO–OPA needs to be driven at least two times above threshold to produce more idler energy than the SRO. In addition, near 3 μm the OPO–OPA is particularly efficient given that the difference frequency wave generated in the second crystal is also output coupled. PACS 42.65.Yj; 42.65.Sf     

Optical manipulation of gold nanoparticles using an optical nanofiber

Gold nanoparticles are gaining increasing attention due to their biological and medical applications.In this letter,we experimentally demonstrate the optical manipulation of 250-nm-diameter gold nanoparticles along an optical nanofiber(550 nm in diameter) injected by an 808-nm laser light.The nanoparticles situated in the evanescent optical field are trapped by optical gradient force and move along the direction of light propagation due to optical scattering force.The velocities reach as high as 132 μm/s at an optical power of 80 mW.     

基于混合光模式阵列的自由空间编码通信

光学涡旋的产生、传输与应用是当前光学领域的研究热点之一.光学涡旋具有轨道角动量,作为一种全新的自由度,丰富了目前光通信的方式.利用面向目标的共轭对称延拓傅里叶计算全息技术,基于空间光调制器,用单束激光直接产生混合光模式阵列进行编码通信.采用由单光涡和复合光涡构成的4种易于识别的模式组成2×2混合光模式阵列,进行灰度图像的编码传输.在接收端提取混合光模式阵列图的信息并进行解码,实现零误码的灰度图像再现.以传输一幅Lena图像为例,使用2×2混合光模式阵列进行编码通信,相对于传统单光涡编码通信,其信息容量可增加4倍.该方法光路简单易行,可扩展性强,进一步拓展使用4×4混合光模式阵列进行编码通信,信息容量提升16倍.提出的混合光模式阵列编码通信方法对于提高信息传输容量具有重要价值.     

空间与频率双性能的薄膜光学滤波器

通过耦合两个掺杂的一维光子晶体，提出了同时兼具频率和空间光学滤波双性能的一维光子晶体异质结结构.在一个宽的频带范围内, 该结构只允许法向入射的确定的一种中心频率光透过，偏离法向此中心频率光全反射; 而在这宽频带范围内其他频率所有的光在任何角方向都全反射. 关键词： 一维光子晶体 光学滤波器 光学薄膜 光通信     

Effect of multimodal coupling in imaging micro-endoscopic fiber bundle on optical coherence tomography

The effect of higher-order modes in fiber bundle imager-based optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been theoretically modeled using coupled fiber mode analysis ignoring the polarization and core size variation in order to visualize the pure effect of multimodal coupling of the imaging bundle. In this model, the optical imaging fiber couples several higher-order modes in addition to the fundamental one due to its high numerical aperture for achieving light confinement to the single core pixel. Those modes become evident in a distance domain using A-mode (depth) OCT based on a mirror sample experiment where multiple peaks are generated by the spatial convolution and coherence function of the light source. The distance between the peaks corresponding to each mode can be estimated by considering the effective indices of coupled (guided) modes obtained from numerically solving the fiber mode characteristics equations and the fiber length. The results have been compared for various types (fiber dimensions and wavelengths) and lengths of fibers, which have mode separation of 715 μm (1404 μm) and 764 μm (1527 μm) for the measurement and analysis, respectively in a 152.5 mm (305 mm)-long imaging fiber.     

微米级锥形光纤的近场光镊

分别从理论和实验上分析了光纤表面倏逝场强度的分布(z=10 nm, 100 nm, 500 nm,1 000 nm),研究了微米级光纤光镊对微球的操纵。实验中把直径为125 m的普通单模光纤拉制成锥腰直径为2 m的锥形光纤。当光纤通光时,在光纤锥区倏逝场的作用下,直径3 m的聚苯乙烯微球保持平衡状态,并且光纤附近的微球被吸引到光纤表面,以5.3 m /s的速度沿着光束的传播方向运动。这个实验不仅实现了对微球的成功捕获,而且验证了光纤光镊的力学作用。光纤光镊对微球的无接触、无损伤操纵,将在生物传感领域有潜在的应用。     

Optimization of PDMS network for a fast response and sensitive actuation material applied in a MEMS spatial light modulator

The cross-linked networks of linear vinyl-terminated poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) with trimethylsiloxy-terminated methyhydrosiloxane–dimethylsiloxane copolymer (cross-linker) were investigated by tuning the cross-linker concentration, the chain length of linear PDMS and the functionality of the cross-linker. Response time and elastic modulus of the cross-linked PDMS elastomer were characterized by home-made measurement systems and analyzed based on their network topologies. An optimized PDMS elastomer, which has response time of 9 μs and elastic modulus of 601 kPa, was utilized as the actuation material in a MEMS spatial light modulator (SLM). The fabrication processes were described. This polymer based SLM has shown fast response time (9 μs) and successfully diffracted light into higher orders with 84% first-order diffraction efficiency.     

Elastomeric microwire-based optical gas flowmeter with stretching-enabled tunability in measurement range

We report the utilization of transparent poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microwires as the transducer for optical gas flowmetry. The elasticity of the PDMS microwire was exploited not only to miniaturize and simplify the flowmeter but also to widen and tune the measurement range through mechanical stretching. Using a 9 mm long microwire, we achieved 2.8~9.8 dB/SLM sensitivity. A 500 μm stretching of the microwire also shifted the measurement range from 1 to 4?SLM. The experimental results agreed well with predictions based on the fluid dynamic/optical model.     

光学微操纵过程的轴平面显微成像技术

光学俘获技术利用光与物质相互作用产生的光势阱效应来实现对微粒的操控,已经成功应用于生物医学、材料科学等交叉领域.在对微粒进行三维俘获时,传统的宽场光学显微技术只能观测到某一平面内微粒的横向运动,对微粒沿轴向运动的观测受到很大限制.本文将轴平面显微成像技术引入光学微粒操控研究中,利用45?倾斜的反射镜把微粒的轴向运动信息转换到横向平面进行观测,与传统宽场显微成像技术相结合,实现了对二氧化硅小球俘获过程横向和轴向运动的同步观测.该成像方法无需扫描和数据重构,具有实时快速等优点,在新型光束光镊、厚样品三维观测和成像等领域具有潜在的应用价值.     

Imaging of subcutaneous blood vessels and flow velocity profiles by optical coherence tomography

We have applied a compact low power rapid scanning Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography system to monitor multi-dimensional velocity profiles within the complex vessels and simultaneous real-time non-invasive imaging of skin tissues morphology in vivo, in the wavelength range of 1.3–1.5 nm. Optical clearing of skin tissues has been utilized to achieve depth of OCT images up to 1.7 mm. Current approach enables applying low-power (0.4–0.5 mW) and low-noise broadband near-infrared light sources and obtaining OCT images with down to 12 μm spatial resolution. Two-dimensional time-domain OCT images of complex flow velocity profiles in blood vessel phantom and in vivo subcutaneous human skin tissues are presented. The effect of optical clearing on in vivo images is demonstrated and discussed.     

Smart pixels in a focal-plane image compression system

Image compressors improve the handling of image data in image-processing systems. In our proposed image-compression system, we employ a smart complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor and an integrated spatial light modulator (SLM) and then the optoelectronic architecture performs a large part of image-compression processes. Each pixel of the integrated SLM consists of multiple modulation pads; the integrated SLM then performs decoding and optical D/A conversion. A paired configuration of the smart CMOS sensor and the integrated SLM transforms optical analog signals into electronic digital signals. A theoretical analysis showed that the error ratio of the proposed systems was 3%.