Talbot experiment re-examined: demonstration of an achromatic and continuous self-imaging regime

In the original Talbot experiment, a grating made of thin slits was illuminated in polychromatic light. Reconstituting this simple experiment, we have observed that at a certain distance from the grating, achromatic lines are formed whose transverse-resolution remains unaffected over a wide propagation-distance range. To our knowledge, this phenomenon has never been reported before. A theoretical explanation of this achromatic and continuous self-imaging regime is given and experimental results are reported.     

Generation of achromatic and propagation-invariant spot arrays by use of continuously self-imaging gratings

A particular class of Montgomery's self-imaging objects that we call continuously self-imaging gratings (CSIG's) is introduced. When they are illuminated by a plane wave, these objects produce a field whose intensity profile is a propagation- and wavelength-invariant biperiodic array of bright spots. The mathematical construction of these objects and their intrinsic properties are described. On a practical level, CSIG's are compact and achromatic nondiffracting array generators. We show that a good CSIG approximation can be realized by a two-level phase grating that is experimentally tested.     

横向剪切干涉中剪切量的选取及分析

横向剪切干涉技术是一种直接测量波面相位分布的光学测量方法,由于其不需要高精度的参考平面,并且能够测量偏离量较大的表面面形偏差,因此得到了更为广泛的应用。但是,通常情况下剪切量大小的选择凭工作经验来确定。为了给出一种定量的剪切量判定方法,论文提出了一种基于Zernike多项式拟合的剪切量判定方法,通过计算机仿真和实验给出了剪切量与测量误差的关系,发现剪切量为测量口径1/10时即可达到良好的测量结果。     

Design of achromatic phase shifters for spaceborne nulling interferometry

The designs of various achromatic phase shifters (APSs) envisaged for nulling interferometry and the search for extrasolar planets or systems from space are discussed in this Letter. It is shown that APS designs can sensibly influence the performance achieved by a simple Bracewell interferometer if they introduce a field of view (FoV) reversal and a pupil flip along one interferometer arm. Analytical and numerical simulations are presented, showing severe signal-to-noise ratio loss and a weak capacity for serendipitous discoveries. The use of FoV-reversal APS should therefore be restricted to the characterization of already known extrasolar planets rather than to their detection.     

Collective phase measurement of an array of fiber lasers by quadriwave lateral shearing interferometry for coherent beam combining

We present a new configuration of quadriwave lateral shearing interferometer dedicated to phase detection for beam-combining purposes. Assuming that the fibers are disposed in a matrix arrangement, our scheme gives direct access to the phase step between adjacent fibers in two dimensions. Experimentally recorded interferograms are made only of two-wave interference fringes that scroll as the phase evolves in the fibers. This simplicity allows fast treatment by the spatial demodulation process, and the phase map from the fibers can be estimated in real time. No external reference is required, and the technique is fully compatible with a high number of fibers.     

Step-selective measurement by grating-based lateral shearing interferometry for segmented telescopes

We present an original step-selective mode which allows to measure only the steps and not the slowly varying aberrations of a wave front. This mode can be implemented when measuring segmented wave front by a diffraction-grating-based lateral shearing interferometer. This set-up rests on the different chromatic response of these interferometers depending on the rate of change of the impinging wave front: for smooth defects, the response is classically achromatic whereas it is chromatic for a step variation, which was to our knowledge overlooked. The interest of this mode for astronomical measurements is highlighted. First we present theoretical considerations to show how this mode of measure is possible; then a numerical simulation illustrates them.     

Holographic lateral shearing interferometry with the displacement of an object under study

A new method of the holographic lateral shearing interferometry is considered. In the method, the recording of the reference holographic lateral shear interferogram is followed by the displacement of an object under study by a distance equal to the lateral shear. The method provides the simultaneous recording of several aberration-free interference patterns representing with the different sensitivity the changes in the phase of the light wave, introduced by the object under study. The method has been tested experimentally to detect optical inhomogeneities in a cylindrical crystal of the active medium of a solid-state laser.     

An integrated liquid crystal phase modulator for speckle shearing interferometry

A versatile phase-stepping speckle shearing interferometer is described that employed a calibrated liquid crystal as its phase modulator, operating at 514 nm. By implementation of an algorithm upon phase-stepped shearographic images it was possible to create a phase map, that provided quantitative data regarding the derivative of any out-of-plane surface displacement. The use of a liquid crystal phase modulator in an optical arrangement had advantages over alternative methods. However, it is normally limited by spatial non-uniformity of the cells birefringence. The birefringence for a nematic liquid crystal cell was determined in several cross-sectional locations, before the cell was successfully integrated into a Michelson speckle shearing interferometer. Such a scheme offers flexibility in the shearing angle, and a measurement system that may operate over an extended range of monitoring wavelengths.     

Collimation testing using wedge plate lateral shearing interferometry and Fourier fringe analysis

For checking the collimation of an optical beam Fourier fringe analysis has been incorporated into the wedge plate interferometric setup. Typical interferograms corresponding to ‘in-focus’, ‘at-focus’ and ‘out-of-focus’ positions of an optical beam have been recorded. As per the testing procedure, FFT of the recorded interferometer is computed digitally, and necessary processing for direct determination of phase is undertaken. Finally, the phase data is unwrapped and plotted as a function of pixel position along the direction perpendicular to the shear. The slope of the phase provides the information regarding collimation position of the collimator. As the collimation position is detected by the direct measurement of the phase over the whole area of the interferogram, high accuracy, reliability and precision are achieved.     

自参考光谱相干法的小波变换相位重建

将小波变换法引入光谱相位相干电场重建法的相位重建，从光谱干涉条纹的小波变换中直接 读取条纹相位，消除了传统傅里叶方法滤波过程中产生的相位噪声. 这种方法将有利于超宽 带、单周期超短脉冲的产生，更适用于超短脉冲的评价. 关键词： 超短脉冲 相位重建 小波变换     

Simple phase extraction in x-ray differential phase contrast imaging

A fast and simple method to extract phase-contrast images from interferograms is proposed, and its effectiveness is demonstrated through simulation and experiment. For x-ray differential phase contrast imaging, a strong attenuation signal acts as an overwhelming background intensity that obscures the weak phase signal so that no obvious phase-gradient information is detectable in the raw image. By subtracting one interferogram from another, chosen at particular intervals,the phase signal can be isolated and magnified.     

近场X射线位相衬度成像及位相恢复算法

理论分析了X射线衍射位相成像和近场位相恢复算法。定义了一个最佳成像距离，给出了基于最佳成像距离和特征空间频率的衍射场光强分布新的表达形式。基于模拟位相物体给出了数值模拟结果。由此得出了探测距离和多色辐照对相衬图像和位相恢复结果的影响。本文给出的结果将对同轴x射线相衬成像实验具有一定的指导作用。     

硬x射线同轴相衬成像的相位恢复

基于角谱的概念，分析了硬x射线同轴相衬成像过程，在传统相位恢复算法GS算法的基础上 ，提出了基于角谱传播的相位恢复算法——迭代角谱法（IASA），并利用数值法模拟研究了 相衬成像和相位恢复过程，从理论上验证了这一相位恢复算法. 关键词： 相位恢复 相位衬度 角谱 硬x射线     

Development of spatial coherence from an extended source in successive rotational shearing interferometers for achromatic stellar coronagraphy

We propose a new scheme of an achromatic nulling interferometer-coronagraph to gain a higher contrast in the star-planet model. Two successive rotational shearing interferometers improve the interference contrast limited by insufficient spatial coherence of a physically extended source, a star. The theory and simulations have been confirmed by an experiment. The theoretical value of the coronagraphic contrast has been improved from 10⁴ to 10¹⁰ for an angular size of the extended source of 10^?2λ/D, where λ is the wave-length and D is the telescope’s aperture diameter.     

Display of tilt information of vibrating object in time average mode using lateral shearing interferometry and interferometric grating

We have experimentally demonstrated vibration analysis of a reflecting object in time-average mode using shearing interferometry and interferometric grating. Experimental results show that time-average moiré fringes, formed between fringe pattern reflected from object and sinusoidal grating are modulated spatially by the amplitude of vibrating tilt. From the experimental results, information regarding tilt of vibrating objects can be determined.     

Development of x-ray scintillator functioning also as an analyser grating used in grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging

In order to push the grating-based phase contrast imaging system to be used in hospital and laboratories,this paper designs and develops a novel structure of x-ray scintillator functioning also as an analyser grating,which has been proposed for grating-based x-ray differential phase contrast imaging. According to this design,the scintillator should have a periodical structure in one dimension with the pitch equaling the period of self-image of the phase grating at the Talbot distance,where one half of the pitch is pixellated and is made of x-ray sensitive fluorescent material,such as CsI(Tl),and the remaining part of the pitch is made of x-ray insensitive material,such as silicon. To realize the design,a deep pore array with a high aspect ratio and specially designed grating pattern are successfully manufactured on 5 inch silicon wafer by the photo-assisted electrochemical etching method. The related other problems,such as oxidation-caused geometrical distortion,the filling of CsI(Tl) into deep pores and the removal of inside bubbles,have been overcome. Its pixel size,depth and grating pitch are 3 μm×7.5 μm,150 μm and 3 μm,respectively. The microstructure of the scintillator has been examined microscopically and macroscopically by scanning electron microscope and x-ray resolution chart testing,respectively. The preliminary measurements have shown that the proposed scintillator,also functioning as an analyser grating,has been successfully designed and developed.     

大孔径静态干涉成像光谱仪中双通道Mach-Zehnder横向剪切干涉仪的设计

大孔径静态干涉成像光谱技术是一种时空联合调制的傅里叶变换成像光谱技术,其核心元件通常采用Sagnac横向剪切干涉仪。这种结构会使进入干涉仪的光线有一半沿原路返回,降低了能量利用率。文章提出一种改进型Mach-Zehnder横向剪切干涉仪结构,克服了能量利用率低的缺点,在实现横向剪切的同时,还具有双通道输出的优点。本文通过光线追迹的方法,得到剪切量的一般表达式,并分析了各种误差源对剪切量误差的贡献。为大孔径静态干涉成像光谱仪的设计提供了新思路,可为该类型的成像光谱仪的设计与优化提供理论指导。     

Differential spectral interferometry: an imaging technique for biomedical applications

Differential spectral interferometry (DSI), a novel method of biomedical imaging that combines the high dynamic range of optical coherence tomography (OCT) with inherently parallel low-bandwidth image acquisition of spectral interferometry (SI), is described. DSI efficiently removes the deleterious dc background inherent in SI measurements while maintaining the parallel nature of SI. We demonstrate DSI on both synthetic and biological samples. Because DSI preserves the low-bandwidth, parallel nature of SI, it is competitive with OCT for biomedical applications in terms of image quality and acquisition rate.     

Atomic imaging and direct phase retrieval using anomalous surface x-ray diffraction

The application of multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction to thin films, interfaces and surface structures is presented. The method directly determines the amplitudes and phases of the complex surface structure factors from surface x-ray diffraction data, measured at three different energies around the absorption edge of one of the elements present in the film. Thereby, one is able to directly Fourier transform the data, which immediately provides meaningful and unambiguous electron-density distributions. These serve as a starting point for subsequent structural refinement. The robustness of the algorithm was evaluated on simulated data as a proof of principle. The experimental limitations and their effect on the method will be discussed as well as stability tests for the algorithm, such as the positions of the anomalous scatterers and the interfacial roughness. It will be shown that the method can be applied to real structures. The algorithm was tested on real data from a thin film of SrTiO(3) grown on NdGaO(3)(110).