Adaptive aberration correction of GRIN lenses for confocal endomicroscopy

Graded-index (GRIN) lenses serve as a key component for miniature endoscopes because of their small diameters and ease of assembly. However, the nonaplanatic nature of GRIN lenses causes inherent spatial aberrations that lower image resolution and sharpness. Here we present the diagnosis of the aberrations in GRIN probes and the use of adaptive optics to compensate for the wavefront errors in the endoscope. Two different operation schemes based on preset and in situ measurements are demonstrated, both resulting in a substantial reduction of the wavefront error from 0.42 to <0.1 μm.     

Ultrahigh-resolution plastic graded-index fused image plates

Fiber-optic imaging systems such as the medical endoscope, the boroscope, the fused-image faceplate, and the image conduit are now made from glass step-index (SI) fibers, and the image resolution of the SI fiber-optic imaging systems is limited to ~5 microm. Ultrahigh-resolution fiber-optic fused-image plates with fiber diameter sizes of 5 and 2.8 microm were fabricated with plastic graded-index (GRIN) fibers. The measured image resolutions of the 5-microm SI and GRIN-based guides were comparable, and the resolution of the plastic GRIN image guides improved as the fiber diameter was reduced from 5 to 2.8 microm.     

Ultrathin fiber probes with extended depth of focus for optical coherence tomography

We report on a novel scheme for extending the depth of focus (DOF) of ultrathin (125 μm diameter) fiber probes for optical coherence tomography (OCT) using a simple phase mask consisting of graded-index (GRIN) fiber. The technique is compatible with existing all-in-fiber probe fabrication techniques, and our simulations show that it can provide a DOF gain of ~2 at a modest ~5 dB reduction of peak sensitivity. In a prototype device using commercially available GRIN fiber, a DOF gain of 1.55 is obtained, validated by beam profiling and OCT imaging.     

平行光束反射光强调制型光纤位移传感器研究

讨论并建立了一种基于平行光束发射光强调制的光纤位移传感器，该传感器的入射和接收光纤的端部都用渐变折射率光纤（GRIN）制成的透镜耦合，入射光纤的渐变折射率光纤透镜发出的平行光束以一定入射角照射到试件表面，接收渐变折射率光纤透镜放置在入射光的镜面反射方向，详细分析了试件表面为镜面反射和朗伯反射时传感器的输出特性，由仿真计算可知，通过调整测头的结构参量，该传感器可获得较强的输出信号，适用于对测量范围和工作点有灵活要求的场合。     

超小自聚焦光纤探头的研究进展

梯度折射率（Gradient-index,GRIN）光纤探头是一种全光纤型超小光学镜头,在心血管等狭小空间组织内窥影像检测中具有广阔的应用前景。但其发展一直缺少系统的理论体系。本文讨论探头设计、制作和性能测试等方面的关键问题。基于GRIN光纤探头聚焦性能的特征参数,对解析设计方法与数值仿真设计方法进行比较分析。针对超小GRIN光纤探头的制作难题,研究一种光纤熔接和切割的高精度一体化集成装置,描述GRIN光纤探头的制作方法。此外,分析了超小GRIN光纤探头聚焦性能检测的方法及装置。本文为超小GRIN光纤探头的设计、制作及性能测试提供了一个方法体系。     

无线光通信系统中的光接收机设计

介绍了无线光通信的特点，比较了光电检测器、光纤接收模块、自聚焦透镜和多模光纤接收机耦合三种设计方案，提出了自聚焦透镜和多模光纤之间的耦合设计是最优方案。详细讨论了自聚焦透镜和多模光纤之间的耦合设计和电信号处理过程。试验证明，采用该方案后系统输出信号的信噪比显著提高，完全可以满足通信系统的要求。     

Performance evaluation of GRIN lenses by ray tracing method

Plastic gradient-index lenses produce clear images with negligible aberration and distortion. One of the methods for fabricating these lenses involves pulling up the core fiber vertically from a polymer solution whose refractive index has been adjusted to the desired value. Since the molecules from the solution diffuse into the inner layer, the monomer components are distributed in the radial direction. The monomer distribution is fixed in the photopolymerization process, and this forming process is repeated several times with adjusting the composition of the solution; hence, a specific refractive index distribution is obtained. We considered a numerical model of the interdiffusion process and analyzed refractive index distribution that could well reproduce the experimental results. Moreover, we employed the ray tracing method to calculate the modulation transfer function and used the transfer function to evaluate the GRIN lens performance. Simulation results showed that our evaluation method well duplicates the experimental results. We thus developed an integrated simulation method for the fabrication and performance evaluation of GRIN lenses.     

A fiber coupling system based on the GRIN lens for use in all-fiber lidars

The all-fiber lidar shows exciting prospects in space-borne applications, but the coupling efficiency between the telescope and a single-mode fiber is an important problem in the lidar design. We employ the mode-matching theory to analyze theoretically the coupling efficiency. In practical coupling system design, three position deviations, which are the off-axis deviation, defocus deviation, and angle deviation, exert a substantial influence on the coupling efficiency and must be considered and discussed. Generally it is very difficult for a fiber coupling system based on a single lens to adjust the fiber position deviations and obtain the maximum coupling efficiency. Therefore, a coupling system, based on the GRIN lens combined with the lenses, is designed and employed to decrease the influence of these position deviations. We perform some numerical simulations to verify the feasibility of a coupling system based on the GRIN lens. Our results show that a coupling system based on the GRIN lens can overcome the off-axis deviation and defocus deviation and decrease the adjustment difficulty.     

Preparations on Several GRIN Lenses

Gradient index materials have been developed from glass melting process to GRIN lenses. Two kinds of GRIN lenses have been fabricated by ion-exchange and glass fusion/diffusion. The main applications to GRIN lenses are demonstrated.     

Research on micro-optical lenses fabrication technology

We present a detail investigation on the development of a series of gradient index (GRIN) optical glass microlens and polymer microlens and microlens arrays in our laboratory in recent years. The special glass material GRIN lenses have been fabricated mainly by using ion-exchange technology, which are applied to construct micro-optic devices and other applications. On one hand, we demonstrated the light propagation and imaging properties of GRIN lenses and the results analyzed. On the other hand, we have explored a drop-on-demand ink-jet printing method to produce microlens array using nano-scale polymer droplets involved with a uniform ultraviolet light and heat solidifying process. The experimental setup for manufacturing polymer microlens array and the performance of refractive microlens elements are also given in this paper.     

Performance of Extrinsic Fabry–Perot Interferometer Based on Graded-Index Lenses for a Fabry–Perot Cavity with Surface Errors

Interference contrast is an important parameter for extrinsic Fabry–Perot interferometer (EFPI) based on graded index (GRIN) lenses. It determines the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and the measurement accuracy. We discuss the influence of Fabry–Perot (FP) cavity surface errors, which are inevitable in controlling the interference contrast during the manufacturing procedure. Our theoretical analysis and results of numerical simulations demonstrate that the surface errors diminish the interference contrast — the larger the surface error, the smaller the interference contrast. The results obtained contribute to the EFPI application in fiber sensors.     

梯度折射率球透镜的制备及其光线轨迹测试

自麦克斯韦鱼眼透镜理论模型提出后,长期以来学术界一直以为它只是一种绝对光学仪器,在实践中并没有应用的可能。但通过对麦克斯韦鱼眼微球透镜的理论研究表明,在一定条件下,它具有良好的成像性能和耦合效率。根据菲克定律推导出梯度折射率球透镜的折射率分布函数。并且熔制了含Li+硅酸盐玻璃和采用槽沉法以及Na+/Li+离子交换法制备直径为0.3—3.0mm的梯度折射率球透镜。通过干涉法测得了梯度折射率球透镜的折射率分布曲线,并研究了光线通过梯度折射率球透镜的轨迹。研究结果表明:在590℃,离子扩散系数为3.07×10-6mm2/s;所制备的梯度折射率球透镜的折射率分布是抛物线分布,并且和理论分析相吻合;梯度折射率球透镜的光线轨迹满足椭圆方程。     

一种类锥形梯度折射率纤维的光线传播特性和近轴成象研究

本文研究了一种类锥形梯度折射率纤维的光线传播特性和近轴成象规律。光在这种类锥形纤维中的传播具有变幅值和变周期的振荡特征,文中从光线轨迹的近似解析式出发,导出高斯光学公式,并讨论了结果的适用性。研究表明,类锥形梯度折射率纤维与在光学特性上锥形梯度折射率纤维十分类似,它们都可望成为微型光学和激光装置的重要新元件。     

GRIN lenses for high efficiency coupling of laser diodes to single mode fiber

Various methods have been proposed to reduce the coupling losses of laser diodes into optical fiber coupling modules. [1] [2] [3] Among the options, coupling methods using GRIN lenses fabricated by ion-exchange technique offer a promising way to realize high efficiency coupling and stable operation.     

方形自聚焦透镜折射率分析

利用MATLAB 偏微分方程工具箱(PDE)实现方形玻璃纤维边界条件下离子扩散的有限元解法,给出一般步骤,对离子交换制备方形自聚焦透镜过程进行计算机模拟.运用分离变量法求解方形玻璃纤维中Tl+离子浓度定解方程,由离子浓度与折射率的线性关系,得到了方形自聚焦透镜折射率分布的数学表达式,计算出折射率分布图以及理论值.与实验值校验表明,相对误差小于0.33%.     

Hollow-core photonic crystal fiber-optic probes for Raman spectroscopy

We have implemented a new Raman fiber-optic probe design based on a hollow-core photonic-crystal excitation fiber surrounded by silica-core collection fibers. The photonic-crystal fiber offers low attenuation at the pump radiation wavelength, mechanical flexibility, high radiation stability, and low background noise. Because the excitation beam is transmitted through air inside the hollow-core fiber, silica Raman scattering is much reduced, improving the quality of the spectra obtained using probes of this design. Preliminary results show that the new probe design decreases the Raman background from the silica by approximately an order of magnitude compared to solid-core silica Raman probes.     

Fabrication of gradient refractive index ball lenses

The theoretical model of the Maxwell fish eye sphere lens has long been regarded as an absolute optical instrument without practical application since it was proposed. But the study on the theory of Maxwell fish eye micro-spherical lens shows that at certain condition it has fine image formation ability and coupling efficiency. Based on the Fick's diffusion equations, the distribution function of refractive index of gradient refractive index (GRIN) ball lenses is derived. Lithium-containing silicate glass is fabricated and GRIN ball lenses whose diameters are from 0.3 to 3.0 mm are made by ion exchange and the sagging method in sodium nitrate. Radial refractive index profiles of these GRIN ball lens are measured by interferometer. Results show that the distribution of the index of refraction is a parabolic curve and in concordance with the computational consequence and its Δn is 0.0002.     

锥形梯度折射率纤维的成像特性

本文从光线轨迹方程出发,推导了锥形梯度折射率纤维的物像关系式,并得出了它的等效焦距和主平面位置。在m=0(即圆柱形梯度折射率纤维)时,这些公式就简化为已知的形式。文中还讨论了锥形梯度折射率纤维的孔径,同时给出了它的成象相片。 关键词：     

Fabrication of gradient refractive index ball lenses using the method of combination of ion exchanging and sagging

Based on the Fick’s diffusion equations, the distribution function of refractive index of a gradient refractive index ball lens (GRIN ball lens/GBL) is derived. Lithium containing silicate glass is fabricated and GRIN ball lenses (GBLs) which diameters are from 0.3 mm to 3.0 mm are made by the method of combination of Ion exchanging and sagging in sodium nitrate. Refractive index profiles of these GBLs are measured by interferometer, and the performances such as effective focal length (EFL), back focal length (BFL) and numerical aperture (NA) between GBLs and homogeneous ball lenses (HBLs) are compared. Results show that the distribution of the index of refraction is parabolic curve and its Δn is about 0.0002, the performances of the former are super to the latter.