Improved fabrication of circular-grating microstructured devices using partially spatially incoherent ultraviolet laser light

We report an effective and practical method for improving the fabrication quality of microstructures by reducing the optical coherence when a dye-doped photoresist thin film is exposed to an ultraviolet laser light source through a transparency photomask with a circular-grating pattern. By using a rotating diffuser to transform the coherent ultraviolet laser light into a low coherence light source instead, the laser light-induced defects of the fabricated microstructured device can be reduced substantially. Besides, we have also demonstrated that as the coherence level of the partially spatially incoherent ultraviolet laser light is lowered successively, the quality of the ring-shaped microstructures can be improved gradually.     

利用变迹术和相干门相结合实现光学相干层析成像术轴向超分辨

光学相十层析成像（光学相干层析成像术）的轴向分辨力由光源带宽和探测光束的聚焦条件共同决定。提高光学相干层析成像术轴向分辨力的方法主要基于带宽光源技术。提出了一种将变迹术与光学相十层析成像术相干门有机结合的方法来提高其轴向分辨力。通过适当形式的光瞳滤波器．使光学相干层析成像术系统轴向响应的主瓣宽度缩小到相干门之内,而其旁瓣则处于相干门之外．不对相干成像产生有效贡献。这样．就能在光源带宽不变的条件下,有效提高光学相十层析成像术的轴向分辨力,避免了采用宽带光源所带来的费用昂贵和系统复杂等缺陷。     

Analysis of non-ergodic behaviour in spatio-temporal coherence properties of speckle light

Spatio-temporal coherence properties of light scattered by rough surfaces that leads to speckle fluctuations are analysed. It is demonstrated that the scattered light is non-ergodic with the disorder due to the scattering process. Although the mutual coherence matrix vanishes with isotropic polarization fluctuations, it is shown that spatio-temporal coherence properties can be described with interference experiments that can be obtained between different speckles of the scattered light. For non-singular scattering processes, the maximal value of the modulus of the Wolf degree of coherence is analysed in the spatial time domain. This approach is also applied to totally unpolarized incident light with an isotropic and spatially independent scattering process. The mean value and the standard deviation of the Wolf degree of coherence are then determined from the coherence properties of the incident light.     

Coherence-vortex lattice formed via Mie scattering of partially coherent light by several dielectric nanospheres

We previously demonstrated that Mie scattering of stationary partially coherent light by dielectric spheres generates coherence vortices. In this Letter, we demonstrate that a lattice of coherence vortices can be generated by Mie scattering of partially coherent electromagnetic waves by a system of three coplanar dielectric spheres. Spontaneous coherence-vortex creation and destruction is observed in our computer modeling of this system.     

Proposed solar energy conversion and storage system using a nano-ring in an array waveguide

We propose the new solar energy conversion and storage system using the array waveguide. It can be used to generate and store solar energy within the nano-array waveguide system. The system consists of micro- and nano-ring resonators incorporating a Mach Zhender Interferometer (MZI) that can be integrated into a single system. The large bandwidth signal, i.e. white light, is generated using a soliton pulse in a Kerr-type nonlinear medium propagating within a micro-ring resonator system. The control light concept is applied using a nano-waveguide incorporating an MZI, whereas the incoherent light is filtered being coherence, which is amplified and stored within the system. The white light can be re-generated using the stored coherent light pulse. Furthermore, the combination of signals is formed by the array waveguide, which is allowed to generate the huge amount of solar energy output.     

Visualization of hair follicles using high-speed optical coherence tomography based on a Fourier domain mode locking laser

In this study, a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) system with a Fourier domain mode locking (FDML) laser is proposed for a dermatology study. The homemade FDML laser is one kind of frequency-sweeping light source, which can provide output power of >20 mW and an output spectrum of 65 nm in bandwidth centered at 1300 nm, enabling imaging with an axial resolution of 12 μm in the OCT system. To eliminate the forward scans from the laser output and insert the delayed backward scans, a Mach-Zehnder configuration is implemented. Compared with conventional frequency-sweeping light sources, the FDML laser can achieve much higher scan rates, as high as ∼240 kHz, which can provide a three-dimensional imaging rate of 4 volumes/s. Furthermore, the proposed high-speed SS-OCT system can provide three-dimensional (3D) images with reduced motion artifacts. Finally, a high-speed SS-OCT system is used to visualize hair follicles, demonstrating the potential of this technology as a tool for noninvasive diagnosis of alopecia.     

Optical Coherence Tomography System based on Synthesis of Optica Coherence Function with a Wavelength-Scanning Laser Source

A new optical coherence tomography system using a wavelength-scanning laser source is presented. The system has the advantage that the depth resolution can be controlled by the scanning range. In general, rapid scanning of the wavelength varies the output power of the laser source, and it is difficult to detect a weak signal of reflected light from the scattering object. By synchronizing the intensity-integrated detector with the variation, the dynamic range of the detection has been improved. To confirm the performance, tomographic imaging of biological tissues is demonstrated.     

一种光学频率梳绝对测距的新方法

采用光学频率梳的高精度绝对距离测量技术在航空航天、科学研究和工业生产等领域都发挥着重要作用.提出一种利用光学频率梳技术,通过检测光强实现绝对距离测量的新方法,研究了光学频率梳发出脉冲的时间相干性,分析了光强与被测距离之间的关系、干涉条纹峰值点位置与被测距离之间的关系.建立了基于Michelson干涉原理的测距系统,通过测量光强信息得到被测距离.以高精度纳米位移平台的位移量作为长度基准进行了绝对测距实验,在每个被测距离点都重复进行了10次实验,将10次实验测得的光强值取平均后用于距离的计算.实验结果表明,该方法可以实现绝对距离测量,在10μm测量范围内,最大误差为47 nm.因此,该方法可以应用于大尺寸高精度的绝对距离测量.     

Measurement of angular distributions by use of low-coherence interferometry for light-scattering spectroscopy

We present a novel interferometer for measuring angular distributions of backscattered light. The new system exploits a low-coherence source in a modified Michelson interferometer to provide depth resolution, as in optical coherence tomography, but includes an imaging system that permits the angle of the reference field to be varied in the detector plane by simple translation of an optical element. We employ this system to examine the angular distribution of light scattered by polystyrene microspheres. The measured data indicate that size information can be recovered from angular-scattering distributions and that the coherence length of the source influences the applicability of Mie theory.     

Interferenz von Licht verschiedener Frequenz

A new method of rotating a photografic screen allows the recording of the moving interference pattern produced by two light beams of different frequency. The method is demonstrated with frequency differencies up to 3 · 10³ sec^?1. It probably can be applied up to 10⁸ sec^?1 by using intense laser light. The interference between waves with different frequencies demands a generalisation of the concepts of partial coherence. This is performed by defining a general function of mutual coherence, which now includes also the moving interferences. The new definitions of the general degree of coherence and of the general visibility are applied to the demonstrated example.     

Coherence polarization filtering and relation with intrinsic degrees of coherence

It is demonstrated for stationary fields that when the polarization state of the electric field can be modified arbitrarily the maximal value of the modulus of the degree of coherence proposed by Wolf [Phys. Lett. A312, 263 (2003)] is equal to the largest intrinsic degree of coherence. In addition, when the light is a mixing of a coherent light that satisfies the factorization condition in the two spatial variables with a statistically uncorrelated, partially coherent, perfectly polarized light, but with a nonparallel polarization state, we show that the polarization modifications that maximize the modulus of the Wolf degree of coherence lead to a light that also satisfies the factorization condition.     

内禀退相干下薛定谔猫态光场与原子相互作用系统的场熵演化

通过求解系统的Milburn方程,研究了二能级原子与薛定谔猫态光场相互作用系统中的场熵演化特性.讨论了内禀退相干,光场强度,相干态间的相位角对场熵演化的影响.结果表明: 内禀退相干下,随着时间的演化,场熵振荡逐渐减弱,光场与原子的纠缠度逐渐趋于恒值.并且光场与原子的最大纠缠度值只取决光场强度和相干态间的相位角,与内禀退相干因子无关.光场强度较小时,奇相干态光场与原子的纠缠度最大;偶相干态光场与原子的纠缠度值为最小;Yurke-Stoler相干态光场与原子的纠缠度值介于两者之间. 当内禀退相干因子不变、光场强度较大时,分别处于Yurke-Stoler相干态、偶相干态和奇相干态的光场与原子的纠缠度值趋近于相同.     

内禀退相干下薛定谔猫态光场与原子相互作用系统的场熵演化

通过求解系统的Milburn方程,研究了二能级原子与薛定谔猫态光场相互作用系统中的场熵演化特性.讨论了内禀退相干,光场强度,相干态间的相位角对场熵演化的影响.结果表明: 内禀退相干下,随着时间的演化,场熵振荡逐渐减弱,光场与原子的纠缠度逐渐趋于恒值.并且光场与原子的最大纠缠度值只取决光场强度和相干态间的相位角,与内禀退相干因子无关.光场强度较小时,奇相干态光场与原子的纠缠度最大;偶相干态光场与原子的纠缠度值为最小;Yurke-Stoler相干态光场与原子的纠缠度值介于两者之间. 当内禀退相干因子不变、光场强度较大时,分别处于Yurke-Stoler相干态、偶相干态和奇相干态的光场与原子的纠缠度值趋近于相同.     

全光纤白光任意反射面速度干涉系统

对离散任意反射面速度干涉系统和全光纤白光任意反射面速度干涉系统（ＦＶＩＳＡＲ）作了较全面的分析，论证了全光纤任意反射面速度干涉系统的主要意义在于实现了理想的空间相干、等程干涉、以及方便灵活的延时设置和极低的系统损耗。给关细的设计要点，报道了所研制的低激光二极管功率实验系统。以该系统进行了霍布金森杆一维应力加载下的自由面速度测试。实验结果与阻抗匹配法计算结果吻合很好，并获得了加载减载过程中产生的自由     

Spectral domain second-harmonic optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) provides micrometer-scale structural imaging by coherent detection of backscattered light. Molecular contrast in OCT has been demonstrated using transient absorption, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, and second-harmonic (SH) generation. The sensitivity of molecular contrast signals can be enhanced by use of Fourier domain techniques. We have constructed a spectrometer-based Fourier domain SH-OCT system for simultaneous acquisition of the fundamental and SH signals. We report a >30 dB increase in SH sensitivity over a similar time domain SH-OCT system and demonstrate contrast between cartilage and bone using collagen as the contrast agent.     

Resolution and noise in ghost imaging with classical thermal light

The resolution and classical noise in ghost imaging with a classical thermal light are investigated theoretically. For ghost imaging with a Gaussian Schell model source, the dependences of the resolution and noise on the spatial coherence of the source and the aperture in the imaging system are discussed and demonstrated by using numerical simulations. The results show that an incoherent source and a large aperture will lead to a good image quality and small noise.     

Phase singularities and coherence vortices in linear optical systems

It is demonstrated for a time-invariant linear optical system that there exists a definite connection between the optical vortices (phase singularities of the field amplitude) which appear when it is illuminated by spatially coherent light and the coherence vortices (phase singularities of the field correlation function) which appear when it is illuminated by partially coherent light. Optical vortices are shown to evolve into coherence vortices when the state of coherence of the field is decreased. Examples of the connection are given. Furthermore, the generic behavior of coherence vortices in linear optical systems is described.     

Quantum light memory using quantum dot spins in a microdisk cavity via Raman process

A solid state quantum circuit where an ensemble of self-assembled quantum dots in a microdisk cavity served as long-lived quantum light memory, is investigated. It is shown that via laser coupling Raman process, the coherent transfer between the light field (qubits) and the ensemble spin states of the quantum dots can be efficient and fast. The coherence properties of the system are analyzed, which enables us to obtain a long coherence time.     

Spectral shaping to improve the point spread function in optical coherence tomography

We demonstrate inhibition of the sidelobes of the axial point spread function in optical coherence tomography by shaping the power spectrum of the light source with a remaining power of 4.54 mW. A broadband amplified spontaneous emission source radiating at 1565 +/- 40 nm is employed in a free-space optical coherence tomography system. The axial point spread functions before and after optical spectral shaping are presented. Results show that spectral shaping of the source can inhibit sidelobes of the point spread function up to 12.9 dB, with an associated small increase of 2.2 dB in noise floor in the far field. The effect of spectral shaping on axial resolution is demonstrated according to three metrics. Image quality improvement is also illustrated with optical coherence tomography images of an onion before and after spectral shaping.     

Postselective two-photon interference from a continuous nonclassical stream of photons emitted by a quantum dot

We report an electrically driven semiconductor single-photon source capable of emitting photons with a coherence time of up to 400 ps under fixed bias. It is shown that increasing the injection current causes the coherence time to reduce, and this effect is well explained by the fast modulation of a fluctuating environment. Hong-Ou-Mandel-type two-photon interference using a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is demonstrated using this source to test the indistinguishability of individual photons by postselecting events where two photons collide at a beam splitter. Finally, we consider how improvements in our detection system can be used to achieve a higher interference visibility.