Soft-X-ray microscopy using spiral zone plates

Phase sensitive soft-x-ray microscopy methods enable the study of specimens for which phase effects are a prevalent contrast mechanism. One way to detect these phase effects is to optically implement the radial Hilbert transform by using spiral zone plates (SZPs), which results in the isotropic measurement of the amplitude and phase gradient in a sample. Soft-x-ray microscopy using an SZP as a single element objective lens was demonstrated through the imaging of a 1 microm circular aperture at a wavelength of 2.73 nm(454 eV). A regular zone plate, a charge 1 SZP, and a charge 2 SZP were fabricated using electron beam lithography and were used as the imaging optic in the microscopy setup. The charge 1 and charge 2 SZP images exhibited isotropic edge enhancement as a result of radial Hilbert filtering.     

Characterization of focusing performance of spiral zone plates with fractal structure

We propose an efficient method of generating a vortex beam with multi-foci by using a fractal spiral zone plate(FSZP), which is designed by combining fractal structure with a spiral zone plate(SZP) in the squared radial coordinate.The theoretical analysis reveals that the number of foci that embed vortices is significantly increased as compared with that obtained by using a conventional SZP. Furthermore, the influence of topological charge on the intensity distribution in focal plane is also discussed in detail. For experimental investigation, an FSZP with topological charge p = 1 and 6.4 mm diameter is fabricated by using a photo-etching technique. The calibration indicates that the focusing performances of such a kind of zone plane(ZP) accord well with simulations, thereby providing its potential applications in multi-dimensional optical manipulation and optical imaging technology.     

Full-transparent zone plates for THz focusing

A full-transparent zone plate(FTZP), which can reuse the wave blocked in the focusing of the Fresnel zone plate(FZP), is proposed to improve the efficiency of terahertz(THz) focusing without aberration. We find that the substrate thickness of the FTZP has a great influence on the focusing intensity, which results from the Fabry–Perot effect. The focusing efficiency of FTZPs could be about twice as high as that of FZPs, but the widths of both focus spots are comparable with the wavelength. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulation.     

Design of projective zone plates and their focusing properties

Transmittances are designed by generation of a family of curves whose local geometry is similar to that of zone plates. The family is obtained by means of projective mapping in the normal direction of an initial curve, so that all the curves of the family have a common evolute. This property allows the prediction of the geometry of the focusing region of the transmittance. Experimental results with an ellipse as the initial curve are shown. We show that the proposed zone plates can be considered a generalization of conventional zone plates.     

Tight focusing of partially polarized vortex beams by binary phase Fresnel zone plates

Based on vectorial Debye theory, the focusing properties of partially polarized vortex beam by high numerical aperture Fresnel zone plate are investigated. The effects of the numerical apertures of and the phase difference of binary phase Fresnel zone plates, the topological charge of vortex beam and the degree of polarization of incident beam on the intensity distribution and degree of coherence in the focal plane are investigated in detail. It is shown that elliptical light spots and the flat top beam can be obtained by selecting certain parameters. Studies of degree of coherence reveal that the degree of coherence between x and y components of the electric field, which is zero in the source plane, is improved in the focal plane for vortex beam, but it is hardly changed for the nonvortex beam. It is also proved that any two of the three electric field components E_x, E_y and E_z are completely coherent everywhere in the focal region if the incident light beam is linearly polarized.     

Generation of X-ray vortex with ultra-long depth of focus using axial line-focused spiral zone plates

We propose axial line-focused spiral zone plates(ALFSZPs) for generating tightly focused X-ray vortex beams with ultra-long depth of focus(DOF) along the propagation direction. In this typical design, compared with the conventional spiral zone plates(SZPs) under the same numerical aperture(NA), the DOF of ALFSZPs has been extended to an ultra-length by optimizing the corresponding parameters. Besides, it also exhibits lower side lobes and smaller dark cores in the whole focus volume. The diameters of dark cores increase as the topological charge value increases.     

Generation of single-focus phase singularity by the annulusquadrangle-element coded binary square spiral zone plates

Optical vortices(OVs) with unique square symmetry are widely used in various applications including particle manipulation,microscopy, and image processing. However, the undesired higher-order foci introduced by the conventional vortex lens such as square spiral zone plates(SSZPs) may lead to additional artifacts and thus degrade contrast sensitivity. In this endeavor, herein,we propose a methodology to combine the merit of SSZPs and the advantage of Gabor zone plates(GZPs) in establishing a spec...     

利用螺旋型波带片进行边缘增强成像

为了提高对等离子体内界面区域的诊断精度,研究了利用螺旋型波带片实现边缘增强成像的技术。制作了用于可见光波段的一阶螺旋型波带片,最外环宽度3μm。利用螺旋型波带片对振幅式物体进行了边缘增强成像,实验获得了成像物体内边界区域的清晰图像,界面区域的成像强度得到很大增强。通过实验测量发现,当物距在菲涅耳衍射区域内时,螺旋型波带片也能够获取较好的成像质量,表明螺旋型波带片具有较大的视场角,能够对大尺度物体进行边缘成像。基于螺旋型波带片的边缘增强成像可以弥补传统成像方式对界面区域成像的不足,提高对等离子体内界面区域的诊断能力。     

利用螺旋型波带片进行边缘增强成像

为了提高对等离子体内界面区域的诊断精度,研究了利用螺旋型波带片实现边缘增强成像的技术。制作了用于可见光波段的一阶螺旋型波带片,最外环宽度3 μm。利用螺旋型波带片对振幅式物体进行了边缘增强成像,实验获得了成像物体内边界区域的清晰图像,界面区域的成像强度得到很大增强。通过实验测量发现,当物距在菲涅耳衍射区域内时,螺旋型波带片也能够获取较好的成像质量,表明螺旋型波带片具有较大的视场角,能够对大尺度物体进行边缘成像。基于螺旋型波带片的边缘增强成像可以弥补传统成像方式对界面区域成像的不足,提高对等离子体内界面区域的诊断能力。     

Appearance of fractional vortex dipoles by using spiral linear zone plate

We present a novel technique based on linear zone plate (LZP) by which linear singularities regarded as fractional vortex dipoles are efficiently generated. Our approach requires applying spiral phase to a LZP, so fractional vortex dipoles are then acquired. By also implementing transverse phase shift to the spiral LZP, we are able to equally divide the number of the produced dark beams carrying mixed phase dislocations into two transverse separate parts. As a result, by varying a so called the controlling parameter the lateral positions of the focused fractional vortex dipoles are changed. Since we are able to generate dark beams in different and specific linear positions, therefore we suggest these features will be of great interest in one-dimensional optical trapping. All results are completely verified by experimental works.     

Low-frequency magnetic energy harvest using multiferroic composite plates

It is shown with a theoretical bending model that a laminated plate with piezoelectric and piezomagnetic layers can be used to harvest magnetic energy at relatively low frequencies. The output electric power and the energy conversion efficiency are calculated. The load dependence of the magnetoelectric coupling coefficient is obtained.     

Fractal zone plates

Fractal zone plates (FZPs), i.e., zone plates with a fractal structure, are described. The focusing properties of this new type of zone plate are compared with those of conventional Fresnel zone plates. It is shown that the axial irradiance exhibited by the FZP has self-similarity properties that can be correlated to those of the diffracting aperture.     

Performance analysis of single-focus phase singularity based on elliptical reflective annulus quadrangle-element coded spiral zone plates

Optical vortices generated by the conventional vortex lens are usually disturbed by the undesired higher-order foci,which may lead to additional artifacts and thus degrade the contrast sensitivity. In this work, we propose an efficient methodology to combine the merit of elliptical reflective zone plates(ERZPs) and the advantage of spiral zone plates(SZPs) in establishing a specific single optical element, termed elliptical reflective annulus quadrangle-element coded spiral zone plates(ERAQSZPs)...     

Focal evolution induced by combination of nonspiral and spiral phase plates

Focusing properties of Gaussian beam induced by nonspiral and spiral phase plates are investigated numerically. The nonspiral phase plate introduces phase singularity to the incident beam, and the spiral one adjusts the radial phase distribution. Intensity distributions in geometrical focal plane show that the parameters of phase plates can alter the intensity distributions considerably. And local dark focal spots may be obtained, the focal spot may evolve into a circle, a two-peak spot, or a curve line, which indicates that the combination of nonspiral and spiral phase plates can be used to form novel focal spots.     

具有准单级聚焦特性的梯形波带片（英）

为改进用于X射线聚焦的二值化Gabor波带片目前所存在的结构复杂、不利于加工制作的问题,在不改变梯形透过率函数的前提下,通过将传统的梯形孔基元变为平行四边形基元应用于波带片的设计之中,提出了一种聚焦效率更高的具有准单级聚焦特性的波带片。理论推导显示,该波带片除了像Fresnel波带片一样能够消除偶数级的焦点外,还可以消除3q级（q为整数）的焦点,1/m4（m为焦点级数）的效率衰减系数也使得高级衍射得到了很好的抑制。MATLAB数值模拟的结果证明,该波带片的特性不仅满足以上推论,还具有比Fresnel波带片和环带扇形基元阵列波带片更低的背景噪声,可以看作是一种准单级聚焦的新型波带片。此外,在同一波带内,这种基于平行四边形基元孔的波带片设计的透光区始终保持各处的径向宽度为该波带的一半,且扇区结构简单一致,能够降低不少加工难度,易于推广应用。     

具有准单级聚焦特性的梯形波带片（英）

为改进用于X射线聚焦的二值化Gabor波带片目前所存在的结构复杂、不利于加工制作的问题,在不改变梯形透过率函数的前提下,通过将传统的梯形孔基元变为平行四边形基元应用于波带片的设计之中,提出了一种聚焦效率更高的具有准单级聚焦特性的波带片。理论推导显示,该波带片除了像Fresnel波带片一样能够消除偶数级的焦点外,还可以消除3q级（q为整数）的焦点,1/m4（m为焦点级数）的效率衰减系数也使得高级衍射得到了很好的抑制。MATLAB数值模拟的结果证明,该波带片的特性不仅满足以上推论,还具有比Fresnel波带片和环带扇形基元阵列波带片更低的背景噪声,可以看作是一种准单级聚焦的新型波带片。此外,在同一波带内,这种基于平行四边形基元孔的波带片设计的透光区始终保持各处的径向宽度为该波带的一半,且扇区结构简单一致,能够降低不少加工难度,易于推广应用。     

Beyond-limit light focusing in the intermediate zone

We experimentally verify that a new nanolens of a designed plasmonic aperture can focus visible light to a single line with its width smaller than the limit of half the wavelength in the intermediate zone. The experimental measurement indicates that while the near field plays a role to increase the spot size in the near zone, it is negligible at the beyond-limit focused region; i.e., the focused light is dominated by the radiative fields. The image taken by the optical microscope shows that the fields focused have propagated to the far zone. Besides being of academic interest, the nanolens capable in achieving a lower diffraction limit in the intermediate zone is important for application possibilities.     

Focusing of light by zone plates in Selfoc gradient-index lenses

We study the diffraction fields in a hybrid diffractive-gradient-index element composed of an amplitude zone plate and a quarter-pitch Selfoc gradient-index lens under uniform illumination. Focal positions of the diffractive orders and zone-plate diffraction efficiencies are measured, thereby validating the existing theoretical results.