Achromatic nulling interferometer for stellar coronography

A common-path interferometer that is intended for observation of a faint off-axis light source against the background of an intense on-axis source is suggested. The on-axis source and its replicated image acquire an achromatic phase shift of 180° and interfere in antiphase. The achromatic phase shift is due to the geometrical phase in the configuration of a 3D interferometer. Interference spatially separates the dark and bright fields of the on-axis source by directing them to different sides of a beam splitter. At the same time, interference does not attenuate the field of the off-axis source, directing it to different sides of the beam splitter with equal intensities. Such a configuration of the common-path interferometer provides mechanical stability.     

Physical foundations of achromatic nulling interferometry for stellar coronagraphy

We propose an achromatic interferometer for the observation of a faint off-axis light source against the background of a bright on-axis light source. The on-axis source and its copy acquire an achromatic phase shift by 180° and interfere with a phase difference of π. The achromatic phase shift is attributable to the geometric phase in the three-dimensional interferometer scheme. Interference spatially separates the nulled and bright fields of the on-axis source, redirecting them on opposite sides of the beamsplitter. Interference does not attenuate the field of the off-axis source and redirects it with an equal intensity on both sides of the beamsplitter. We consider the principle of operation of the nulling interferometer and constraints on the attenuation of an extended source due to the decrease in coherence. The laboratory breadboard and experiment are briefly described.     

Intensification and location of relativistic laser pulses against pointing fluctuations with micro-tube plasma lenses

We analyze, via an off-axis incident model and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, the influence of beam pointing fluctuations (BPFs) on the propagation properties of relativistic laser pulses in micro-tubes. It is observed that the in-tube laser intensity can be further amplified in the BPFs-induced off-axis incident case. But the intensification factor exhibits strong polarization-dependence. When the laser pulse is linearly polarized in the off-axis incident plane (p-polarization), more electrons may be dragged out from about a half of the tube inner surface in each across section than in the on-axis incident case, enhancing the effects of relativistic nonlinearity and channel focusing. The area for generating more electrons is reduced by one half in the s-polarization case, resulting in less efficient light intensification. The BPFs-induced off-axis incident also leads to pulse shortening. Moreover, light confinement in the tube core is evident and the laser pulse tends to be coaxial with the tube.     

On-axis computer-generated holograms for three-dimensional display

The feasibility of on-axis synthetic near-field amplitude holograms for three-dimensional display applications is demonstrated. An iterative optimization algorithm is used that generates an object-dependent diffuser that utilizes the phase and, to some extent, amplitude freedoms in the reconstruction plane. The discrimination between twin images and undiffracted terms is thus improved. The on-axis approach presents important advantages: a low coherence requirement for the illuminating source, a lower spacebandwidth and higher viewing angle than with the off-axis alternatives. Defocusing and parallax are experimentally attained with an extended white-light source and a lensless setup.     

Polarization Fizeau interferometer based on birefringent thin film

A polarization Fizeau interferometer based on birefringent thin film is presented. The interferometer adopts a birefringent thin film to obtain orthogonally polarized and strictly common-path reference and test beams. Advantages include ease of implementation on large-aperture interferometer, measuring test optics from long distance, and achieving high fringe visibility. The phase shift is obtained by combining a quarterwave plate and an analyzer. The concepts illustrated are verified experimentally.     

Modeling of Multiple Scattering from an Ensemble of Spheres in a Laser Beam

This paper details the results of upgrading an effective numerical technique (derived for multiple-scattering simulations in photon correlation/cross-correlation with a plane-wave light source) for the modeling of multiple scattering in a laser beam. The off-axis shape coefficients of an arbitrary beam are computed starting from the set of known beam-shape coefficients for an on-axis location by using the addition theorem for the spherical vector wavefunctions of the first kind. The discussed technique is verified by comparison with a localized approximation for a focused Gaussian beam and with Barton's spheres-arbitrary beam interaction theory. An additional advantage of the proposed technique (self-testing of the computation accuracy by comparison of the off-axis beam-shape coefficients evaluated from two different on-axis origins) is demonstrated.     

Reflective point-diffraction microscopic interferometer with long-term stability

An on-axis phase-shifting reflective point-diffraction microscopic interferometer for quantitative phase microscopy based on Michelson architecture is proposed.A cube beamsplitter splits the object wave spectrum into two copies within two arms.Reference wave is rebuilt in one arm by low-pass filtering on the object wave frequency spectrum with a pinhole-mask mirror,and interferes with the object wave from the other arm.Polarization phase-shifting is performed and phase imaging on microscale specimens is implemented.The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has the advantage of long-term stability due to its quasi common-path geometry with full use of laser energy.     

Phase measurements of a twisted nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator with a common-path interferometer

We present a novel and high accuracy (±1°) technique for measuring the difference in phase delay between the positive and negative eigenvectors of a twisted nematic liquid crystal spatial light modulator (LCSLM) as a function of applied voltage. We show a new architecture for a common-path interferometer where we simultaneously generate both the positive and negative eigenvectors of the LCSLM. We use an electro-optic light modulator to provide a time varying phase shift between the two eigenvectors and measure the phase delay difference between the two eigenvectors. We compare the phase delay values with those obtained using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer and find good agreement.     

Zone-plate interferometry at 13 nm wavelength

We report on interferometry using a two-zone-plate common-path interferometer operating at a wavelength of 13 nm. The interferometer was set up with a laser-driven high-harmonic source emitting radiation with the high degree of spatial and temporal coherence necessary for interferometry. The interferometer is suited for investigations of the coherence properties of the light source employed, as well as for simultaneous measurements of the real and imaginary part of the complex index of refraction in the 100 eV regime. This is demonstrated in a proof of principle experiment with a piece of Zr-foil as the phase-shifting and absorbing sample. PACS 41.50.+h; 42.65.Ky; 42.87.Bg; 07.60.Ly     

Debye Series of Scattering by a Multi-Layered Cylinder in an Off-Axis 2D Gaussian Beam

The Debye series of light scattering by an infinite multi-layered cylinder in an off-axis 21） Gaussian beam is studied. A simplified but rigorous iterative formula for scattering coefficients is presented. The numerical calculations of scattering intensity by a cylinder in on-axis and off-axis beams are developed. It is indicated that the results of Debye series reach an agreement with those of generalized Lorenz-Mie theory and the off-axis distances vary the results to a great extent. The Debye series components of a two-layered cylinder are further discussed. The relations between them with rainbow phenomena are analysed.     

超短脉冲厄米-高斯光束在湍流大气中的光谱移动和光谱跃变

基于广义惠更斯-菲涅尔原理，推导出了超短脉冲厄米-高斯(H-G)光束在湍流大气中的光谱传输方程，研究了其光谱移动和光谱跃变特性，并给予了合理的物理解释.研究表明，超短脉冲H-G 光束通过湍流大气传输其光谱特性由大气折射率结构常数、厄米多项式阶数、脉冲宽度和观察点位置坐标等因素共同决定.轴上点光谱为蓝移，随着离轴距离的增大，光谱由蓝移变为红移，无光谱移动点的位置坐标与脉冲宽度无关.此外，当湍流增强到一定程度时离轴点还存在光谱跃变现象.自由空间与湍流大气中的光谱跃变行为存在很大的差异，本文对此进行了详细的分析. 关键词： 超短脉冲厄米-高斯(H-G)光束 湍流大气 光谱移动 光谱跃变     

Common-path achromatic rotational-shearing coronagraph

To suppress starlight for direct exoplanet observation, we propose a common-path achromatic rotational-shearing coronagraph (CP-ARC), which is an interferocoronagraph with an angular-adjustable field rotator. The CP-ARC aims to maintain unwanted detection of stellar light, which can be suppressed incompletely by interference because of the finite diameter of the star. Compared to the previous interferocoronagraph, which had a nonadjustable 180° field rotation, the proposed CP-ARC can improve the coronagraphic contrast by several orders if the CP-ARC is combined with medium or large telescopes where the companion-star separation is optically resolved by more than a few Airy radii. The CP-ARC is made robust against mechanical disturbances due to the common-path interferometer principle.     

Sinusoidal fringe projection system based on compact and non-mechanical scanning low-coherence Michelson interferometer for three-dimensional shape measurement

We report a sinusoidal fringe projection system based on superluminiscent diode (SLD) as a broad-band light source in conjunction with an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) as frequency tuning device for three-dimensional shape measurement. The present system is based on a compact low-coherence Michelson interferometer system. The conventional interferometric system was modified in which one side of the beam splitter was coated with aluminum oxide which is used as reference mirror. With this modified version, interference fringes can easily be obtained by simply placing the external mirror in contact on the other side of beam splitter. Sinusoidal fringes with multiple spatial-carrier frequency can be generated in real-time using the present system by means of changing the radio-frequency signal to AOTF electronically without mechanically moving any component in the system. The present system was tested by projecting the sinusoidal fringes on a step-like object and 3D shape of the object was reconstructed using Fourier transform fringe analysis technique. The main advantages of the proposed system are completely non-mechanical scanning, easy to align, high stability because of its nearly common-path geometry and compactness.     

等衍射长度超短脉冲贝塞耳-高斯光束的传输特性

使用复解析信号法,研究了衍射长度与频率无关的超短脉冲贝塞耳－高斯光束在自由空间中的传输,推导出了解析表达式并进行了理论和计算分析.结果表明：在无衍射长度内,等衍射长度超短脉冲贝塞耳.高斯光束的横向光强分布扩展很小.在无衍射长度之外,横向光强分布有显著扩展.但是,在无衍射长度内轴上脉冲波形仍有展宽.随传输距离增加轴上蓝移单调增加逐渐达到一渐近值.随横向距离增加轴外光谱移动由蓝移变为红移.     

Wavelength-scanning Talbot effect and its application for arbitrary three-dimensional step-height measurement

We demonstrate the phenomenon of Talbot self-image plane shift by tuning the wavelength of the broadband light source. A superluminescent diode (SLD) is used as a broad-band light source and an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) as wavelength-scanning device. A periodic grating is illuminated by the wavelength tuned light of SLD using AOTF and Talbot self-image plane is shifted continuously in the longitudinal direction without mechanically moving the grating. The wavelength-scanning Talbot effect is then implemented for the measurement of arbitrary step-height of discontinuous objects with extended range. The main advantages of the proposed system are non-mechanical scanning, high stability because of it’s common-path geometry and compactness. Since the measurement of the phase is not required the system is free from phase ambiguity problem and therefore, the range of measurement is large as compare to interferometric techniques.     

Influence of turbulence on the spectrum of diffracted chirped Gaussian pulsed beams

The influence of turbulence on the spectrum of diffracted chirped Gaussian pulsed beams is studied in detail. By using the quadratic approximation of the Rytov’s phase structure function and the finite expansion of the aperture function, the analytical expression for the spectrum of diffracted chirped Gaussian pulsed beams propagating through atmospheric turbulence is derived. It is shown that in free space there exist the on-axis and off-axis multi-spectral switch for diffracted chirped Gaussian pulsed beams. However, the turbulence results in a decrease of the spectral transition height, and the spectral switch even disappears when the turbulence is strong enough, which is very different from the behavior of undiffracted chirped Gaussian pulsed beams. Specially, with increasing the strength of turbulence, the higher-order spectral switch disappears firstly for on-axis case, while the lower-order spectral switch disappears firstly for off-axis case. In free space the on-axis spectrum is blue-shifted after a certain propagation distance, but the on-axis spectrum is red-shifted after a shorter propagation distance when the turbulence is strong enough. The spectral transition height increases with increasing the chirp parameter and decreasing the pulse duration, and the odd number order position without spectral shift is independent of the chirp parameter and pulse duration.     

Spectral shift of a stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam in a Gaussian cavity

Spectral changes of a stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model (EGSM) beam interacting with a Gaussian cavity are investigated. It is shown that the spectral shift is mainly determined by the degree of polarization of the initial beam and by the parameters of the cavity. Generically the blue shift occurs at on-axis points, while the red shift can occur at off-axis points. The condition under which the relative spectral shift is independent of the degree of polarization of the initial beam is analyzed.     

啁啾脉冲高斯光束在大气湍流中的传输特性北大核心CSCD

基于广义惠更斯-菲涅耳原理,推导出啁啾脉冲高斯光束在湍流大气中传输的光谱解析表达式,并对解析表达式进行了数值仿真。结果表明:啁啾参数越大,光源谱宽越宽;当光源相对谱宽大于0.336时,轴上点光谱产生蓝移;湍流使得轴上点光谱的相对频移量减小,相对频移量随源光谱宽的增大而非线性增大;增大光束束腰半径可减小湍流对光谱频移、光束展宽的影响。     

非球面数字波面检测技术

提出了一种快速检测浅度非球面（非球面度小于0.01 mm）的方法,该方法无需补偿器或其他辅助光学元件进行零位补偿。用移相干涉仪直接测量正轴或离轴的浅度凹非球面,剔除平移、倾斜、失焦等调整误差后,得到实际被测镜面的面形分布数据;根据正轴或离轴的浅度凹非球面矢高方程计算理想非球面的面形分布数据,得到理论波面数据,用实测的面形分布数据减去理论的面形分布数据即可得到被检非球面的剩余波像差,即面形误差。利用该方法测量了一口径为135 mm的双曲面,并用零位补偿法加以验证。两种方法的检测结果精度相当,说明数字波面法可实际应用于正轴或离轴的浅度凹非球面的检测。     

Practical common-path heterodyne surface profiling interferometer with automatic focusing

In modern semiconductor and optics industries, there is a strong demand for a highly sensitive and non-contact surface profilometer. This paper describes a practical heterodyne surface profiling interferometer for on-line non-contact measurement which has been developed recently. The essential feature of the profilometer is a newly designed common-path configuration to minimize the effects caused by vibration, air turbulence and other environmental variations. A single-mode frequency-stabilized laser diode (780 nm) serves as the light source to make the whole system compact (total volume 250L×200W×100H mm). A powerful signal processing scheme is also developed, which includes three parts: automatic voltage control, phase measurement with wide range and automatic focusing control. All these make the repeatability and stability of the profiling interferometer greatly improved. The system has vertical resolution of 0.39 nm and lateral resolution of 0.73 μm. During approximately an hour, the stability is within 1.95 nm(3σ).