The rotating linearly polarized light from a polarizing Mach–Zehnder interferometer: Production and applications

The production and control of a required polarization state are very important in optical measurements such as thin film surface characterization, ensuring continuity of data measurement and speedy acquisition. In this paper, a polarizing Mach–Zehnder interferometer is used to generate rotating linearly polarized light. Theoretical analysis and experimentation on the proposed configuration show good agreement. Applications of the rotating linearly polarized light generated from the proposed polarizing interferometer are demonstrated. The applications include measurements of the phase retardation of several wave retarders. The results from the preliminary investigation show a promising performance of the proposed setup.     

Ultimate degree of residual polarization of incoherently backscattered light for multiple scattering of linearly polarized light

By invoking ideas about the distribution of the optical paths of partial components of the scattered field, we obtain an expression for estimating the degree of residual polarization of light that is incoherently backscattered from a disordered multiply scattering semi-infinite medium illuminated by linearly polarized light. In the backscattering regime, the depolarization length of the linearly polarized light in the disordered medium becomes smaller with the passage from the isotropic to anisotropic scattering. Experiments with model media featuring substantially anisotropic scattering (the anisotropy parameter of 0.90 ≤ g ≤ 0.95) demonstrated that for backscattering of linearly polarized light, the depolarization length is close to the transport length of the scattering medium.     

与入射线偏振光振动方向无关的低偏振度消偏器

消偏器是光纤传感器、光放大器等偏振敏感性光学系统中的关键器件,用于减小输入光的偏振度(DOP).设计了一种与入射线偏振光振动方向无关的低偏振度消偏器,该器件中利用人为的偏振相关延迟代替了保偏光纤的双折射,并在偏振相关型消偏器前增加了一个1/4波片,从而对任意方向振动的线偏振光具有相同的消偏能力,结构紧凑.对消偏性能随波片阶数、入射光中心波长和振动方向的变化作了数值计算.实验中采用半峰全宽为0.13 nm的光源,入射线偏振光在任意方向振动时,输出光偏振度小于2.6%,消偏器的插入损耗为0.6 dB,损耗起伏小于0.11 dB.实验和数值计算结果表明,该消偏器具有低偏振度、低插入损耗和适合于宽光谱应用的优点.     

Optical orientation by linearly polarized light in intersubband quantum-well transitions

The absorption of linearly polarized light in low-dimensional semiconductor structures is investigated. It is shown that the absorption under consideration can give rise to spin orientation of free carriers. A theory of this optical orientation by linearly polarized light is developed for resonant intersubband optical transitions in n-type quantum wells. It is demonstrated that, in the vicinity of the resonance, the optical orientation undergoes spectral inversion, namely, the electron spin orientation reverses sign with increasing frequency. This behavior can be accounted for by the spin-orbit subband splitting, which is linear in the wave vector, and by the energy and quasi-momentum conservation laws.     

与人射线偏振光振动方向无关的低偏振度消偏器

消偏器是光纤传感器、光放大器等偏振敏感性光学系统中的关键器件,用于减小输入光的偏振度(DOP)。设计了一种与入射线偏振光振动方向无关的低偏振度消偏器,该器件中利用人为的偏振相关延迟代替了保偏光纤的双折射,并在偏振相关型消偏器前增加了一个1/4波片,从而对任意方向振动的线偏振光具有相同的消偏能力,结构紧凑。对消偏性能随波片阶数、入射光中心波长和振动方向的变化作了数值计算。实验中采用半峰全宽为0．13 nm的光源,入射线偏振光在任意方向振动时,输出光偏振度小于2．6%,消偏器的插入损耗为0．6 dB,损耗起伏小于0．11 dB。实验和数值计算结果表明,该消偏器具有低偏振度、低插入损耗和适合于宽光谱应用的优点。     

偏振光学系统中相位延迟机理及其应用

为了实现偏振编码的自由空间量子密钥分发实验,研制了偏振保持的光机系统,并对该系统所采用的相位延迟传输机理及应用进行了研究,建立了偏振误码率在允许范围内的量子链路.首先,采用矩阵光学理论对偏振光的方位角、相位延迟与消光比的关系进行了介绍.接着,通过矩阵光学理论及实验验证了偏振光学系统的相位延迟线性叠加原理.然后,在相位延迟线性叠加原理的基础上,设计了一套偏振保持光学系统,并通过理论分析及实验验证了此系统具备良好的偏振保持效果.最后,将偏振保持光学系统的设计机理应用于量子通信光机系统的设计之中,并取得了良好的设计效果.实验结果表明:相位之间的相互抵消可以有效地进行偏振保持设计,最终设计的量子通信光机系统的偏振消光比优于500∶1.满足了自由空间量子通信实验中对偏振误码率的要求.     

非对称三区光瞳滤波器实现一维横向超分辨

基于严格的光学成像矢量衍射理论,以4倍缩小倍率的成像系统和x线偏振光照明为例,得到经光瞳滤波器调制的大数值孔径光学系统焦区横向场表达式.通过详细研究非对称三区复振幅型光瞳滤波器的内外环归一化半径、各环相位分布和第一层透过率t对y方向分辨率增益比Gty,斯特尔比Sy和第一旁瓣与主瓣相对强度Iry的影响.设计了一种非对称三区相位型光瞳滤波器,实现Gty=0.8345,Sy=0.4087,Iry=0.4923,使得y方向分辨率比没有加光瞳滤波器时提高了将近20%.     

Spin polarization separation of light reflected at Brewster angle

A spin polarization separation of reflected light is observed, when a linearly polarized Gaussian beam impinges on an air-glass interface at Brewster angle. In the far-field zone, spins of photons are oppositely polarized in two regions along the direction perpendicular to incident plane. Spatial scale of this polarization is related to optical properties of dielectric and can be controlled by experimental configuration. We believe that this study benefits the manipulation of spins of photons and the development of methods for investigating optical properties of materials.     

Volume holographic imaging element with background noise reduction function for eye-gaze detection under white light illumination

Volume holographic optical element (VHOE) for imaging under white light illumination is integrated with imaging elements and background noise reduction filter. An integrated VHOE and the band pass filter which is optimized to the VHOE can develop the optical setup for a wearable eye-gaze detection system. An integrated VHOE is fabricated in photopolymer and then the effects of noise reduction filters as a function of the direction of the incident plane wave into an image sensor are evaluated. Experimental results show that the background noise reduction filter should be designed to reduce the incident light with wide direction of the transmitted light.     

Optimization of focusing of linearly polarized light

We show that, by adding a π-phase shift to one-half of a linearly polarized beam, the roles of the transversal and longitudinal field components of the focused beam are interchanged, resulting in better focusing of the longitudinal component in the direction perpendicular to the phase jump line. For this component the scheme produces a spot with FWHM >15% smaller than a spot generated with either linearly or radially polarized light for any NA. The scheme has a similar advantage when applied to circularly polarized light, and it holds for both a plane wave and a realistic case of a Gaussian incident beam. This technique may find applications when using recording media responsive to the longitudinal field only, particularly in read/write for optical storage where the resolution in one transverse dimension is most important.     

Amplification of a weak circularly polarized light signal in a multilevel atomic medium

Amplification of a weak circularly polarized light signal in a multilevel atomic medium excited by a strong linearly polarized resonant radiation is studied. A strong optical pumping may lead to the population inversion between magnetic sublevels of hyperfine components of the ground and excited states. Solution to the self-consistent system of density matrix equations and Maxwell equations for propagation of the weak signal allows analyzing optimum conditions of amplification.     

Depolarization of backscattered linearly polarized light from ZnO thin film

The depolarization behavior of backscattered linearly polarized light from ZnO thin film was investigated experimentally. The results show that the characteristics are related to both the polarization orientation and wavelength of linearly polarized incident light. When the incident light is s-polarized, the depolarization behaviors are different for different wavelengths. When the incident light is p-polarized, the depolarization behaviors, on the contrary, are similar for different wavelengths. In addition, there is an optimal incident angle for depolarization of linearly polarized light with different wavelengths, which is equal to their effective Brewster angles, respectively.     

The validity of high-pass angular spectrum filter in solid immersion lens system

应用矢量方法计算了具有高通角谱滤波器的固体浸没透镜（SIL）系统的焦场分布。数值结果显示，对于径向（角向）偏振输入光，高通角谱滤波器可以减小SIL系统的光斑（暗斑）大小。然而，对于线性偏振输入光，简单的高通角谱滤波器不能够优化SIL系统的光场分布，也不能够改进系统的光存储密度。     

Circularly polarized localized near-field radiation at the nanoscale

Diffraction-limited circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation has been widely used in the literature for various applications at both optical and microwave frequencies. With advances in nanotechnology, emerging plasmonic nano-optical applications, such as all-optical magnetic recording, require circularly polarized electromagnetic radiation beyond the diffraction limit. In this study, a plasmonic cross-dipole nano-antenna is investigated to obtain a circularly polarized near-field optical spot with a size smaller than the diffraction limit of light. A cross-dipole nano-antenna is composed of four metallic nano-rods placed at a perpendicular orientation with respect to each other. The performance of the nano-antenna is investigated through numerical simulations. In the first part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with a diffraction-limited circularly polarized radiation. An optimal antenna geometry is specified to obtain an intense optical spot that satisfies two necessary conditions for circular polarization: a phase difference of 90° and a unit amplitude ratio between the electric field components in the vicinity of the antenna gap. In the second part of this study, the nano-antenna is illuminated with diffraction-limited linearly polarized radiation. It is shown that the phase difference between the electric field components can be adjusted by selecting either different antenna lengths or different gap distances in the vertical and horizontal directions. Due to the relatively short wavelength of surface plasma waves on the antenna, it is demonstrated that the phase difference can be sufficient to obtain circularly polarized light. An optimal physical configuration for the nano-antenna and the polarization angle of the incident light is identified to obtain a circularly polarized optical spot beyond the diffraction limit from diffraction-limited linearly polarized radiation.     

Polarization-Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography using only Linearly Polarized Light

This work presents polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) using only linearly polarized light. The main characteristics of linear PS-OCT include the following. (1) In a turbid medium with linear birefringence, the degree of polarization (DOP) of backscattered linearly incident polarized light does not change significantly with the increase of birefringence value; (2) the phase retardation of the sample can be obtained from only the phase difference between the orthogonal polarization heterodyne signals, so a common phase noise rejection mode is introduced. These advantages may not only support the immunity of background phase noise and laser frequency noise, but also increase the sensitivity of phase retardation measurements; (3) the dynamic range of phase retardation in this system is between 0° and 180°     

Propagation of polarized light in opals: Amplitude and phase anisotropy

The interaction of linearly polarized light with photonic crystals based on bulk and thin-film synthetic opals is studied. Experimental transmission spectra and spectra showing the polarization state of light transmitted through opals are discussed. A change in polarization is found for waves experiencing Bragg diffraction from systems of crystallographic planes of the opal lattice. It is shown that the polarization plane of the incident linearly polarized wave at the exit from photonic crystals can be considerably rotated. In addition, incident linearly polarized light can be transformed to elliptically polarized light with the turned major axis of the polarization ellipse. Analysis of polarization states of transmitted light by using the transfer-matrix theory and homogenization theory revealed good agreement between calculated and experimental spectra.     

Longitudinal conductivity in ABC-stacked trilayer graphene under irradiating of linearly polarized light

We study the effect of linearly polarized light on the band structure and longitudinal conductivity in ABC-stacked trilayer graphene. The linearly polarized light can induce a pair of additional points in ABC-stacked trilayer graphene, where conduct and valence bands touch. The locations of these points are determined by the amplitude of the light. Furthermore, the layer pseudospin polarization can be controlled by the light. When the Fermi energy locates at Dirac points, i.e., E_f=0, the longitudinal conductivity shows resonance phenomena when the light is present. Away from the Dirac points, the longitudinal conductivity is unchanged as varying E_f for weak light field at larger Fermi energy, and the amplitude of longitudinal conductivity can be controlled by tuning the light field amplitude. Moreover, the effect of linearly polarized light on resonance phenomena in k-cubic Rashba-Dresselhaus system under the irradiating of linearly polarized light is discussed.     

基于正交调制的偏振光谱成像系统研究

为了同时获取目标的全偏振二维图像信息和其光谱信息,设计了一种基于正交调制的偏振光谱成像系统。该系统由光学接收模块、相位调制器、Wollaston棱镜、Savart偏光镜、检偏器以及成像模块组成。其可以将原始光信号分解成两束相互正交的偏振光,并且分别成像在CCD焦平面的上下两部分上,从而构成两幅偏振图像。两组图像的叠加可以将干涉条纹的数据相互抵消,从而获得目标的纯图像信息,两组图像的相减可以将目标灰度图像相互抵消,从而获得目标的纯干涉条纹。通过理论分析与计算得到了光强分布函数和光谱变化形式。实验在稳定的光源环境中采用高对比度目标与背景板,完成了全偏振图像的实时采集。经相位校正和切趾处理改善了干涉图像的畸变,又通过去低频滤波和阈值滤波抑制了图像中背景噪声的影响,从而实现了对目标图像的提取及偏振光谱的复原。该系统具有稳定性高、光谱分辨率可调、信噪比高、可识别能力强等特点,对在复杂背景中提取目标图像、光谱及偏振态信息具有重要意义。     

Driving light pulses with light in two-level media

A two-level medium, described by the Maxwell-Bloch system, is engraved by establishing a standing cavity wave with a linearly polarized electromagnetic field that drives the medium on both ends. A light pulse, polarized along the other direction, then scatters the medium and couples to the cavity standing wave by means of the population inversion density variations. We demonstrate that control of the applied amplitudes of the grating field allows one to stop the light pulse and to make it move backward (eventually to drive it freely). A simplified limit model of the Maxwell-Bloch system with variable boundary driving is obtained as a discrete nonlinear Schr?dinger equation with tunable external potential. It reproduces qualitatively the dynamics of the driven light pulse.     

Fluorescence polarization imaging for delineating nonmelanoma skin cancers

We present a method for detecting nonmelanoma skin cancers using exogenous fluorescence polarization. We built an automated system that permits exogenous fluorescence polarization imaging. It includes a tunable linearly polarized monochromatic light source and a CCD camera equipped with a rotating linear polarizer and a filter to reject excitation light. Two fluorophores that are retained in tumors, toluidine blue and methylene blue, are employed. We demonstrate that fluorescence polarization imaging can be used for accurate delineation of nonmelanoma cancers. The results suggest that this optical technique may be suitable for real-time noninvasive demarcation of epithelial cancers.