Extending the detection range of optical vortices by Dammann vortex gratings

We report a 2D static binary phase Dammann vortex grating that combines the features of a conventional vortex grating and a Dammann grating. This grating uniformly distributes energies among the diffraction orders, so the low-efficiency problem at higher diffraction orders of conventional vortex gratings is resolved and the detection range of the optical vortices (OVs) is greatly increased. Experimental results of OV detection using a fabricated 5×5 Dammann vortex grating are given, and the topological charge detection range from -12 to +12 is achieved. The potential applications of such gratings include transmitting, receiving, and multiplexing OV beams in optical communication systems.     

Propagation properties of an optical vortex carried by an Airy beam: experimental implementation

In this Letter, we experimentally studied the propagation dynamics of Airy beams (AiBs) carrying phase singularity or an optical vortex (OV). A 3/2 phase mask encoded with phase singularity was used to generate AiBs and OVs enjoying precise position alignment and compact optical configuration simultaneously. Experimental results showed that the OV deflection velocity was faster than that of the main lobe of the AiB, agreeing with the analytical prediction. Numerical simulation results are also in agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, OVs with larger topological charges were also studied experimentally with the same approach.     

Generation of optical vortex light beams by volume holograms with embedded phase singularity

Special features of the optical-vortex (OV) beams generated by thick holographic elements (HE) with embedded phase singularity are considered theoretically. The volume HE structure is based on the 3D pattern of interference between an OV beam and a standard reference wave with regular wavefront. The incident beam diffraction is described within the framework of a linear single-scattering model in which the volume HE is represented by a set of parallel thin layers with the “fork” holographic structure. An explicit integral expression is derived for the complex amplitude distribution of the diffracted paraxial beam with OV. The numerical analysis demonstrates that the HE thickness may essentially influence not only selectivity and efficiency of the OV beam generation but also the amplitude and phase profile of the diffracted beam as well as regularities of its propagation. We have studied the generated OV morphology and laws of its evolution; in particular, the possibility of obtaining a circularly symmetric OV beam regardless of the diffraction angle is revealed.     

Propagation dynamics of an optical vortex imposed on an Airy beam

In this Letter, we demonstrate the general propagation dynamics of an Airy beam (AiB) carrying unit phase singularity, i.e., optical vortices (OVs). For the OV with a unit charge, theoretical analysis indicates that the OV carried by the AiB will propagate along the parabolic trajectory with an acceleration velocity twice as fast as conventional AiBs before a critical position. Thereafter, the AiB main lobe destroyed by OV will be reconstructed and the phase singularity will reappear in the middle of the AiB profile.     

Optical vortices in self-focusing Kerr nonlinear media

In this work we numerically compare the interaction of optical vortices (OVs) in self-defocusing and self-focusing Kerr nonlinear media. We find that the basic scenarios (attraction/repulsion, translation/rotation vs. background) in the interaction of two and three vortices with equal and alternative topological charges (TCs) are the same in both media. However, the vortex dynamics under self-focusing conditions is influenced by the reshaping of the surrounding part of the background. Square structure of OVs with alternating TCs is found to be stable with respect to the vortex positions in self-focusing media. This elementary cell is successfully generalized in a large square array of OVs with alternative TCs which brings ordering in the multiple filamentation of the background beam in self-focusing conditions.     

光线庞加莱球法构建的结构光场及其传输特性研究

结构光场在光信息传输、显微成像以及微粒俘获中有重要作用.本文基于光线庞加莱球法结合不同花瓣数的梅花曲线构建了一类结构光束.根据光线庞加莱球法可计算这类光束在束腰面上的光强与相位分布,以及光束内外焦散线的分布.这些焦散线的特征表明梅花形结构光束具有无衍射与自修复的特性.进一步采用角谱衍射法和光线追迹研究了这类光束在空间中的传输特性.当梅花花瓣数为0时,该光束退化为拉盖尔-高斯光束;当花瓣数为1时,内焦散线汇集到两点,使光束具有无衍射特性.通过光线庞加莱球法获得其光线在空间传播的轨迹,直观地展示了光束被遮挡后的自修复特性.此外,本文还展示了花瓣数为5的结构光束,其内焦散线为十角星结构,该光束同样具有自修复特性.通过修改梅花曲线参数或选择其他庞加莱球面曲线可以构造更加复杂的结构光场.     

Oxygen-vacancy-induced diffusive scattering in Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions

By first principles analysis, we systematically investigate effects of oxygen vacancies (OV) in the MgO barrier of Fe/MgO/Fe magnetic tunnel junctions. The interchannel diffusive scattering by disordered OVs located at or near the Fe/MgO interface drastically reduces the tunnel magnetoresistance ratio (TMR) from the ideal theoretical limit to the presently observed much smaller experimental range. Interior OVs are far less important in influencing TMR, but they significantly increase the junction resistance. Filling OV with nitrogen atoms restores TMR to near the ideal theoretical limit.     

一种新空心光束的理论及实验研究

提出了一种用来描述空心光束的新理论模型——空心高斯光束模型，通过控制光束参数可以方便地调制空心光束黑斑的大小.导出了空心高斯光束经傍轴光学系统的解析传输变换公式.利用导出的公式计算分析了空心高斯光束在自由空间的传输特性.在实验上利用矩阵本征值方法设计了能输出空心高斯光束的光学谐振腔，对实验上得到的空心高斯光束进行了传输特性的研究.结果表明，理论和实验相吻合.该空心高斯光束产生的光势阱为控制冷原子提供了一条新途径. 关键词： 空心高斯光束 光学谐振腔 传输特性     

Propagation of a stochastic electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere

A generalized diffraction integral formula for stochastic electromagnetic beams propagating through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere is derived with the help of tensor method. Some analyses are illustrated by a numerical example relating to changes in the average intensity and the degree of polarization of an electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model beam propagating through a double-lenses system. It is shown that the optical system has strong influence on the propagation properties of the beam. The method used in this paper can be widely applied to the propagation of astigmatic beams through an optical system in turbulent atmosphere.     

被动方式产生近似无衍射贝塞尔光技术

无衍射光束具有中心光斑小且不随传播距离变化、自再现、产生局域空心光等特点,由于这些特殊的光束特性而在许多领域,如计量学,经典光学,非线性光学和生命科学等领域中得到广泛的应用。无衍射光束的产生与变换是目前的一个研究热点。通过衍射理论、干涉理论和几何光学方法可对无衍射光进行描述。实现无衍射贝塞尔光束的方法可分为主动式和被动式。本文主要综述地介绍了几种被动式产生近似无衍射贝塞尔光束的最新技术,通过分析其优缺点,给出了这些技术的适用范围。     

双层矩形相位光栅的变分束特性

报道了双层矩形相位光栅的变分束特性。发迹入射光照明方向,由同一双层矩形相位光栅获得了光束数分别２、３、４和５,总衍射效率高于７０％的扇出光。     

Misalignment measurement of optical vortex beam in free space

The misalignment of optical vortex(OV) beams, including transversal displacement and tilt, occurs in many situations, including on reflection or refraction at an interface between two different media and in propagation and tracking systems for optical communications. We propose a reliable method to determine and subsequently eliminate tilt and transversal displacement in an OV beam. An experimental setup was established to verify the proposed method, and the experimental results showed good agreement with those of the numerical simulations.Using the measured misalignments, the initial orbital angular momentum spectrum can be recovered in free space.     

贝塞尔-高斯涡旋光束相干合成研究

基于相干合成技术,提出了对特定离散空间分布的高斯光束阵列加载离散涡旋相位生成二阶贝塞尔-高斯(Bessel-Gaussian,BG)涡旋光束的方案.利用干涉法、桶中功率和相关系数对合成BG涡旋光束的拓扑荷、光束质量进行了定量评价及参数优化.结果表明:基于相干合成技术能够产生特定的目标BG涡旋光束,阵列子光束紧密排布时合成BG光束的光束质量更高.该方法的提出对于其他涡旋光束的产生或者涡旋光束功率的提高具有一定的参考意义.     

环状光束通过透镜的聚焦特性研究

给出了环状光束在柱坐标系下的一种描述模型,并利用广义衍射积分理论,推导出环状光束经过近轴ABCD光学系统的传输公式.在此基础上,通过数值模拟方法定量分析了环状光束的聚焦光强分布以及焦面处的桶中功率.研究结果表明,环状光束的聚焦特性与光束阶数以及系统菲涅耳数有关;环状光束在实际焦面和几何焦面上的桶中功率均随着遮拦比的增大而降低,而随着系统菲涅耳数的增大而增大.在实际工作中,通过合理地选取系统菲涅耳数和光束遮拦比可以有效地控制环状光束聚焦后的光束质量.     

离轴平顶高斯涡旋光束形成的合成光涡旋及其在自由空间中的传输

对两束拓扑电荷m_1,2=±1的平行、离轴平顶高斯涡旋光束在束腰面叠加形成的合成光涡旋及其在自由空间的传输做了研究.详细的数值计算和分析表明,合光涡旋的位置、数目和净拓扑电荷与光束的控制参数,包括相对位相,振幅比,束腰宽度比,相对离轴参数,光束阶数,以及传输距离有关,但拓扑电荷不总是守恒. 关键词： 奇点光学 合成光涡旋 平顶高斯涡旋光束 拓扑电荷     

4pi聚焦系统中振幅和相位调制的径向偏振涡旋光束聚焦特性的研究

基于Richards-Wolf矢量衍射积分公式, 研究了径向偏振涡旋光束在振幅和相位调制下的4pi聚焦特性.振幅调制是通过振幅滤波实现, 即改变入射光束起始积分值达到调节,相位调制是通过添加相位延迟角δ 的液晶相位延迟器来改变入射光束的偏振态.模拟结果显示,随着振幅的减小, 4pi聚焦系统焦点附近的光轴上呈现出多光球结构; 而相位调制对焦点附近的光强分布产生拉伸作用, 即调节入射光束的拓扑核m和相位延迟器的延迟角δ,可以得到特殊的光强分布. 随着相位δ增大, m=0产生的多光球结构慢慢向光链结构转变,最终变成暗通道;而m=1产生的光链结构慢慢变成光球结构; m=2产生的暗通道变成光球和光链叠加的结构, 这种特殊聚焦光束在光学微操纵领域具有潜在的应用价值. 关键词： 物理光学 偏振 光链 4pi聚焦系统     

Propagation properties of vectorial elliptical Gaussian beams beyond the paraxial approximation

Starting from the vectorial Rayleigh diffraction integral formula and without using the far-field approximation, a solution of the wave equation beyond the paraxial approximation is found, which represents vectorial non-paraxial elliptical Gaussian beams in free space. The far-field expressions for non-paraxial Gaussian beams and elliptical Gaussian beams can be regarded as special cases treated in this paper. Some basic propagation properties of vectorial non-paraxial elliptical Gaussian beams, including the irradiance distribution, phase term, beam widths and divergence angles are studied. Numerical results are given and illustrated.     

Four-petal Gaussian beams and their propagation

A new form of laser beams called four-petal Gaussian beams is introduced. Based on the Collins integral, two kinds of analytical propagation expressions for this new kind of beams through a paraxial ABCD optical system are derived. The propagation properties of the four-petal Gaussian beams are studied and illustrated with numerical examples. At the source plane the beam has four-petals; the space among the petals is determined by the beam order. In the far field the beam evolves into a number of mirror symmetric petals and the petals of higher order beams can be equally spaced.     

采用衍射掩模产生白光横向平顶光束

白光横向平顶光束在定向背光式自由立体显示器中有重要应用.本文提出一种采用带蝶形小孔阵列的衍射掩模片获得白光横向平顶光束的方法.根据广义惠更斯-菲涅耳衍射积分和多波长叠加原理,推导出光强分布计算式.设计一套实验装置,数值模拟并实验验证出射光束在不同距离的横向光强分布以及小孔蝶形凹度(蝶形中心高度与边长的比值)对横向光强分布的影响.结果表明:当选择小孔蝶形凹度为0.50—0.66时,可以得到平顶因子F 0.89的白光横向平顶光束,横向平顶光束的宽度随着传输距离的增大而增大,而平顶因子基本不变.实验还发现柱面透镜的折射色散和衍射色散可以互相抵消,使白光横向平顶光束基本无色散.     

Surface relief diffraction gratings written on <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">β</Emphasis> -BaB<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>4</Subscript> crystal by femtosecond pulses

Surface relief diffraction gratings were written at the entrance surface of a β-BaB₂O₄ (BBO) crystal under irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses. Probe–beam diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to characterize the diffraction properties and the microstructures of the gratings. The maximal first-order diffraction efficiency of these gratings is approximately 63%. The surface periodic structure of the material induces noncollinear propagation of the fundamental input beam in the crystal. Using this diffractive optical element, efficient generation of multiple second-harmonic beams was achieved. PACS 42.79.Dj; 42.40.Lx; 42.65.–k