Photonic nanojets as three-dimensional optical atom traps: A theoretical study

We show that an efficient three-dimensional optical atom trap can be achieved by light scattered off a dielectric microsphere. Namely, under suitable conditions, a plane wave incident on a polymer sphere produces a focal point in the forward scattering direction known as photonic nanojet. The photonic nanojet is formed at a distance of a few micrometers away from the surface of the sphere wherein the Casimir–Polder interaction felt by an atom is negligible compared to the optical and gravitational potentials. When many polymer spheres are brought together so as to form a linear chain, a one-dimensional periodic optical lattice filled with cold atoms is possible since interference between the incident and scattered beams is minimal when the spheres are not too close.     

Intensity‐Enhanced Apodization Effect on an Axially Illuminated Circular‐Column Particle‐Lens

A particle can function as a refractive lens to focus a plane wave, generating a narrow, high intensive, weak‐diverging beam within a sub‐wavelength volume, known as the ‘photonic nanojet’. It is known that apodization method, in the form of an amplitude pupil‐mask centrally situated on a particle‐lens, can further reduce the waist of a photonic nanojet, however, it usually lowers the intensity at the focus due to blocking the incident light. In this paper, the anomalously intensity‐enhanced apodization effect was discovered for the first time via numerical simulation of focusing of the axially illuminated circular‐column particle‐lenses, and a greater than 100% peak intensity increase was realised for the produced photonic nanojets.     

Tunable Optical Hooks in the Visible Band Based on Ultra-Thin Metalenses

Optical hook, a kind of curved high-intensity light beam, has aroused tremendous interests during the past several years, and its experimental observation has been reported in the terahertz band. The existing approaches to generate such beams depend on the effect of “curved photonic nanojet” stemming from transparent and symmetry breaking high-index dielectric slab, and thus are restricted by the limited material selection, large device footprint, and fixed trajectory. Herein, the generation of photonic hooks in the visible band based on ultra-thin metalenses is reported. The strategy can overcome the limitations mentioned above and the photonic hook can be easily tuned by changing the incidence angle or wavelength. Such flexibility is likely to widen the future applications of such unique beam in particle trapping, optical tweezers, and superresolution imaging.     

A Photonic Nanojet as Tunable and Polarization‐Sensitive Optical Tweezers

The ability to manipulate small objects with focused laser beams has opened a venue for investigating dynamical phenomena relevant to both fundamental and applied sciences. However, manipulating nano‐sized objects requires subwavelength field localization, provided by auxiliary nano‐ and microstructures. Particularly, dielectric microparticles can be used to confine light to an intense beam with a subwavelength waist, called a photonic nanojet (PNJ), which can provide sufficient field gradients for trapping nano‐objects. Herein, the scheme for wavelength‐tunable and nanoscale‐precise optical trapping is elaborated, and the possibility of lateral nanoparticle movement using the PNJ's side lobes is shown for the first time. In addition, the possibility of subwavelength positioning using polarization switching is shown. The estimated stability with respect to Brownian motion is higher compared to conventional optical trapping schemes.     

Properties of a three-dimensional photonic jet

By focusing light with a sphere several wavelengths in diameter, we can obtain a photonic nanojet [Opt. Express 13, 526 (2005)]: if light is focused on the surface of the sphere, the width of the beam stays smaller than the wavelength along a distance of propagation of approximately two wavelengths and reaches a high intensity. We use the rigorous Mie theory to analyze the basic properties of the photonic jet in the general three-dimensional polarized case. This fast algorithm allows us to determine the influence of the radius and the refractive index of the sphere on the photonic jet. The polarization response is also studied. We observe that high-intensity concentrations and subwavelength focusing are two different effects. Their basic properties are analyzed, and explanations are proposed.     

表层厚度渐变一维耦合腔光子晶体的反射相位特性及其应用

利用传输矩阵法研究了表层厚度渐变的一维非对称耦合腔光子晶体的反射相位特性. 研究表明, 光子禁带内(包括缺陷模附近)的反射率在98%以上, 且基本不受表层厚度影响, 特别是, 在非正入射情况下, 简并的缺陷模随着表层厚度的变化会发生分裂; 进一步研究发现, 在缺陷模分裂处附近, TE, TM偏振的反射相位以及它们之间的相位差均敏感地依赖于表层厚度的变化, 从而使得反射光的偏振态也随表层厚度的变化而敏感变化, 其物理机理在于缺陷模分裂所造成的剧烈相位变化. 基于上述特性, 设计了一种表层厚度呈二维周期变化的一维光子晶体结构, 从该结构反射的激光经透镜聚焦后, 在聚焦区域同时存在各种偏振态(包括沿不同方向的线偏振、左旋或右旋圆偏振、椭圆偏振等)的子光束, 它们叠加后在聚焦区域将产生具有无规相位和无规偏振态的光场. 以上结果能有效降低激光的相干性, 在激光核聚变等领域有潜在的应用价值.     

Ultrasonic diffraction of Bessel light beams in uniaxial gyrotropic crystals

Specific features of the acousto-optic diffraction of Bessel light beams propagating in the vicinity of the optical axis of a uniaxial gyrotropic crystal have been investigated. The dependences of the diffraction efficiency on the acousto-optic interaction length, ultrasound power, and polarization state of the incident Bessel light beam have been analyzed using the coupled-wave equations and the overlap-integral method. It is shown that polarization-independent diffraction of Bessel light beams is observed in paratellurite crystals, when the Bragg diffraction efficiency is independent of the polarization state of the incident beam. The physical reason for this diffraction has been established (both theoretically and experimentally) to be simultaneous implementation of two processes of anisotropic scattering, at which the Bragg synchronism conditions are satisfied for orthogonal polarized Bessel beams with elliptical polarization.     

A compact T-branch beam splitter based on anomalous reflection in two-dimensional photonic crystals

We project a compact T-branch beam splitter with a micron scale using a two-dimensional (2D) photonic crystal (PC). For TE polarization, one light beam can be split into two sub-beams along opposite directions. The propagating directions of the two splitting beams remain unchanged when the incident angle varies in a certain range. Coupled-mode theory is used to analyze the truncating interface structure in order to investigate the energy loss of the splitter. Simulation results and theoretical analysis show that choosing an appropriate location of the truncating interface (PC-air interface) is very important for obtaining high efficiency due to the effect of defect modes. The most advantage of this kind of beam splitter is being fabricated and integrated easily.     

非对称光束干涉制备二维微纳光子结构研究

研究了基于不同偏振组合的非对称4束和5束光干涉制备二维微纳光子结构.通过改变光束的参数组合获得了枝节状、波形状等结构.在非对称光束干涉中,光束的构型和偏振改变了波矢差分布,从而改变晶格形貌和对比度.利用CHP-C感光胶开展了全息光刻实验制备,获得了与模拟一致的光子结构.该研究为制备新颖光子结构提供了有效途径,此类光子结构还可以为制备不同类型的金属点阵结构提供模板,对新型光子器件的制备和应用研究具有一定的促进作用.     

Creating attoliter detection volume by microsphere photonic nanojet and fluorescence depletion

In this paper, a novel method is presented for creating a 3-dimensinal sub-diffraction effective observation volume based on microsphere photonic nanojet and fluorescence depletion effect. Using microsphere to achieve photonic nanojet focusing effect, the proposed method applies the radially polarized plane wave to excite fluorescence and the azimuthally polarized beam to obtain fluorescence depletion field. The effective detection volume of photonic nanojet can reach 0.002 μm³ (2aL). Compared with conventional confocal microscopy, this effective detection volume represents a reduction of almost 2 orders of magnitude. With simple configuration based on cost-effective microspheres, the proposed method is theoretically proved to be a potential tool for the fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) to have large analysis range and to investigate single molecule at high concentrations.     

Superenhanced photonic nanojet by core-shell microcylinders

The super-enhancement of photonic nanojets generated at the shadow side surfaces of core-shell microcylinders illuminated by a plane wave is reported. Using high resolution finite-difference time-domain simulation, the enhancements of photonic nanojet at resonance and off-resonance conditions of microcylinders are investigated. The intensity enhancement of photonic nanojet depends strongly on the thickness of metal shell. Under proper resonance condition, the photonic nanojet super-enhancement can be excited in the core-shell microcylinder. Even under off-resonance condition, the photonic nanojet from microcylinder is still strong enough. The results may provide a new technique to detect and image nanoscale objects below the diffraction limit. This could yield a new ultra-microscopy technique for using visible light to detecting nanoparticles, optical gratings, and single molecules.     

Polarization characteristics and magneto-optic diffraction efficiency at oblique light incidence

In a great number of papers that deal with the study of the magneto-optic diffraction (MOD), theoretical analysis and interpretation of experimental data are performed without regard for reflection effects of the incident and diffracted light beams on the entrance and exit surfaces of the transparent film. In consequence the MOD parameters are not connected with the angle of light incidence and the orientation of the incident light polarization plane. In the present work the reflection effects are taken into account. For the Raman-Nat diffraction region the general expressions involving the relationships of diffracted light polarization and intensity with the symmetry of the grating, angle of incidence and polarization of the incident light are obtained. In particular it is shown that even for a symmetrical grating the polarization of the zeroth-order diffracted beam differs from that of the incident light, and the polarization of higher-order beams differs from the orthogonal one providing that the incident light is not s- or p-polarized. A maximum in the angular dependence of diffraction efficiency is predicted being observed experimentally.     

Generation of TE- and TH-polarized Bessel beams using one-dimensional photonic crystal

Based on the matrix method, a theory of propagation of TE- and TH-polarized Bessel light beams (BLBs) in a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) is developed. The transmission through a 1DPC (with and without a defect impurity) of a quasi-circularly-polarized incident Bessel beam generated by an axicon from a circularly-polarized Gaussian beam has been calculated and analyzed. Also a solution of the problem on the transmission of BLBs through crystalline plate (layer of a uniaxial crystal with the orientation of the optical axis orthogonally to its interfaces) and reflection from it has been presented.Based on this, a new method of formation of TE- and TH-polarized Bessel light beams has been proposed. It has been shown that it is possible to control this process by changing the cone angle of an incident Bessel light beam. The effect of generation of a coherent superposition of two Bessel beams with different cone angles in the case of a high birefringence of defect layer has been predicted theoretically.     

Beaming effect in multimode photonic crystal by using coupled waveguides

Beaming effect of a multimode photonic crystal (PC) covered by a waveguide array on the exit plane is investigated theoretically. The simulation results show that the multimode PC can make the incident light split into two beams, which can be regarded as secondary sources radiating light into the waveguide array. As a result, many light beams can be generated in the array by the coupling among the waveguides, and the interference of these light beams after passing the system leads to directional emission. Additionally, the directional emission is greatly affected by the beam distribution on the exit plane of the system. Once the main light beams are formed on the exit plane of the system by modulating the system size, steady beaming effect can be obtained in the horizontal direction.     

双色激光偏振演示实验

利用红色和绿色激光束产生2束偏振方向分别平行及垂直于入射面的偏振光,再混合为1束光.通过缓慢改变光束的偏振结构及其与入射透明介质的夹角,使反射与透射光斑颜色及明暗发生变化,演示了马吕斯定律、菲涅耳关系和布儒斯特定律等光的偏振性质.     

Giant lateral shift of a light beam at the defect mode in one-dimensional photonic crystals

It is found that when a light beam is incident on a one-dimensional photonic crystal (1DPC) containing a defect layer, the lateral shifts of both the reflected and the transmitted beams are greatly enhanced near the defect mode of the 1DPC, whose location depends on the angles at a fixed frequency. The effect was studied by use of a Gaussian beam. The giant lateral displacement is due to the localization of the electromagnetic wave.     

Spin Hall effect of light in one-dimensional photonic crystal

We established a general propagating model to investigate the spin Hall effect of light in one-dimensional photonic crystal. A polarized (spin dependent) Gaussian beam which was incident obliquely through one-dimensional photonic crystal was demonstrated. Having decomposed a polarized Gaussian beam into different plane wave components charactering individual wave vectors, we revealed the transmission coefficient and reflection coefficient of each plane wave which propagates through the one-dimensional photonic crystal. It enabled us to obtain exact solution to the electric field of transmitted and reflected beams, and the analytical formula of light intensity, accordingly. A method based upon the partial differentials with the intensity distribution of the transmitted and reflected Gaussian beams was presented to determine the transverse and longitude shifts explicitly. Spin dependent shifts in one-dimensional photonic crystal provide alternative evidence for the spin Hall effect of light.     

Mutually pumped phase conjugate mirror using cross polarized photorefractive coupling

This paper presents a new proposal for a mutually pumped phase conjugate mirror (MPPCM) using cross polarization. In the cross polarized MPPCM, two light beams, whose polarizations are orthogonal to each other, incident on a photorefractive crystal, causing photorefractive interaction to generate phase conjugate waves with an orthogonal polarization to an incident beam. The use of Ar⁺ laser and BaTiO₃ crystal in an experiment for the cross polarized MPPCM found that diffraction efficiency for an extraordinary beam is about 20%. As opposed to a conventional parallel polarized MPPCM in which the use of a beam splitter is required to separate a diffraction beam, the cross polarized MPPCM can efficiently extract phase conjugate waves by means of a polarized beam splitter, demonstrating the advantage of substantially improved efficiency.     

Light propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals illuminated by a tightly focused laser beam

By using a tightly focused laser beam, we have studied light propagation in two-dimensional photonic crystals consisting of closed-packed hexagonal arrays of polystyrene particles with diameter of 1∼5 μm. The light propagation is found to depend strongly on the focal point positioning, the incident beam polarization and the interaction between particles and glass substrates.     

基于亚波长偏振光栅的偏振光分束器设计

利用琼斯矩阵和矢量傅里叶系数方法分析了二元亚波长偏振光栅的偏振特性和衍射效率,并给出了相应的数学解析式.研究发现,通过入射光的偏振可以控制不同衍射输出级的偏振态,且0级输入偏振态与输出偏振态始终相同,而其它级次除线偏光外都与入射偏振态相反.当二元亚波长偏振光栅的位相延迟分别设置为0.62π和π时,可以将二元亚波长偏振光栅设计为1→3或1→2的偏振光分束器,且分束器具有衍射效率高、宽带宽、对入射角的变化不甚敏感的特点.