Selective ablation-assisted two-photon stereolithography for effective nano- and microfabrication

The two-photon stereolithography (TPS) process has strong merits for the direct fabrication of 2-D and 3-D microstructures with sub-100-nm resolution. In this paper, we report an effective fabrication process in which selective ablation-assisted TPS (SA-TPS) was used to ameliorate some of the limitations of the TPS process. In SA-TPS, two processes (namely, an additive process of two-photon induced photocuring and a subtractive process of selective laser ablation) were performed sequentially using a single femtosecond laser optical scanning system. The effectiveness of the proposed process was demonstrated in several applications, including precise high-resolution patterning at resolution levels higher than those achievable using the TPS process, and the fabrication of structures with high mechanical sensitivity.     

Optical sectioning in differential interference contrast microscopy

While developing a three-dimensional (3-D) measurement technique for the retardation-modulated differential interference contrast (RM-DIC) microscope, we encountered a problem. The problem was that the measurement range was restricted in λ because it applies weak phase approximation.To overcome this drawback, we propose a 3-D reconstruction method with z-axis scanning. This technique needs high optical sectioning, like confocal microscopy.We investigated the characteristic of optical sectioning in a DIC microscope, then we confirmed experimentally that a DIC microscope has high optical sectioning. We also confirmed that a RM-DIC microscope has higher optical sectioning.By combining the optical sectioning of a RM-DIC microscope and z-scanning, we developed a new 3-D reconstruction method. This novel technique overcomes the observed problem as the measurement range is increased to micron order.     

Simple expressions for performance parameters of complex filters, with applications to super-Gaussian phase filters

To study the three-dimensional (3-D) behavior produced by complex filters, we have extended the expressions for the axial and the transverse gain to the case in which the best image plane is not near the paraxial focus. Super-Gaussian phase filters are proposed to control the 3-D image response of an optical system. Super-Gaussian phase filters depend on several parameters that modify the shape of the phase filter, producing tunable control of the 3-D response of the optical system. The filters are capable of producing a wide range of optical effects: transverse superresolution with high depth of focus, 3-D superresolution, and transverse apodization with different axial responses.     

Dynamic phase transition of ferroelectric nanotube described by a spin-1/2 transverse Ising model

The dynamic phase transition properties for ferroelectric nanotube under a spin-1/2 transverse Ising model are studied under the effective field theory(EFT)with correlations.The temperature effects on the pseudo-spin systems are unveiled in three-dimensional(3-D)and two-dimensional(2-D)phase diagrams.Moreover,the dynamic behaviors of exchange interactions on the 3-D and 2-D phase transitions under high temperature are exhibited.The results present that it is hard to obtain pure ferroelectric phase under high temperature;that is,the vibration of orderly pseudo-spins cannot be eliminated completely.     

Microstructure and wear resistance of laser clad cobalt-based alloy multi-layer coatings

Multi-layer Co-based alloy (HMSP 2537) were deposited on Ni-based superalloy plate with a TJ-TL-T5000 type CO₂ laser. Sections of such coatings were examined to reveal their microstructure and phase composition using optical microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). The hardness and wear resistance of the coatings were tested. The results showed that the prime phase (γ-Co dendrite) and other phases, such as CrNi, Co₇W₆, and Cr₂₃C₆ existed in the coatings. Dendrite or cellular microstructures were observed perpendicular to the interface, and coarsening microstructures were obtained as more layers deposited. Dendrite paralleling to laser scan speed was also found near the top surface of the last layer. Fine microstructures of γ-Co dendrite and lamellar eutectic in inter-dendritic regions strengthened the coatings. Microhardness and wear resistance of the coatings were much higher than that of substrate but slightly decreased with layers increased.     

A new method of three-dimensional measurement by differential interference contrast microscope

Based on weak phase approximation and the partial coherence theory, we analyze the image characteristics of a phase object using a microscope. We show that the image of the phase object is formed by the interplay between the phase distribution and the defocus.Using this theory, we also show the image characteristics of a differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope.We develop a method for extracting the phase component from the DIC image using two images with different retardation to reconstruct the phase distribution of the object. We call our new microscope a “retardation-modulated DIC (RM-DIC) microscope”. We describe the RM-DIC microscope and confirm our method using grating samples with depths of 20 and 50 nm.To measure the three-dimensional (3D) figures of the microstructures on the object using a DIC microscope we need to extract the phase component from the DIC image and to deconvolute the phase component by means of the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the DIC microscope.We conclude that our RM-DIC microscope can take quantitative measurements of the phase distribution, making it a very useful tool for 3D measurement of an object’s microstructures.     

Dynamics and transport of a large acoustic polaron in one dimension

We have studied the dynamics and transport relaxation of a large polaron in a one-dimensional (1-D) system with an acoustic- (Debye) type phonon spectrum and a deformation potential electron-phonon interaction. The dynamics is treated in a collective coordinate formalism which shows that such a polaron moves as a heavy quasi-particle that carries energy and (crystal) momentum. For thermal energies less than the polaron binding energy, its transport relaxation is dominated by collision processes wherein a thermal phonon is reflected off the polaron with a momentum transfer that is small compared to the thermal polaron momentum. The phonon reflectivity is estimated and found to exhibit a maximum (resonance) for phonon wavelengths that match the polaron size. Furthermore, the reflectivity is largely independent of the polaron momentum. We incorporate these results into a semi-classical (Boltzmann) kinetic theory and obtain a polaron mobility that is independent of the polaron effective mass and decreases monotonically with increasing temperature. These results are compared to and found to be substantially different from those obtained recently for the large polaron in the 1-D molecular cystal model wherein the underlying phonon spectrum has optical (Einstein) character.To study the effects of three-dimensional (3-D) coupling on the 1-D polaron, we propose a simple 3-D extension of the 1-D acoustic model which includes both electronic and elastic interchain interactions. We briefly discuss the question of polaron stability in the presence of 3-D coupling and the criteria of validity for the purely 1-D treatment.     

Design and verification of diffractive optical elements for speckle generation of 3-D range sensors

The optical projection using speckles is one of the structured light methods that have been applied to three-dimensional (3-D) range sensors. This paper investigates the design and fabrication of diffractive optical elements (DOEs) for generating the light field with uniformly distributed speckles. Based on the principles of computer generated holograms, the iterative Fourier transform algorithm was adopted for the DOE design. It was used to calculate the phase map for diffracting the incident laser beam into a goal pattern with distributed speckles. Four patterns were designed in the study. Their phase maps were first examined by a spatial light modulator and then fabricated on glass substrates by microfabrication processes. Finally, the diffraction characteristics of the fabricated devices were verified. The experimental results show that the proposed methods are applicable to the DOE design of 3-D range sensors. Furthermore, any expected diffraction area and speckle density could be possibly achieved according to the relations presented in the paper.     

Fringe pattern correlator for three-dimensional object recognition

We propose a novel three-dimensional (3-D) object-recognition method based on a Fourier-transform profilometry technique and a two-dimensional (2-D) correlation technique. Height information on 3-D objects is transformed to phase information on 2-D complex amplitude by use of the Fourier-transform profilometry technique. 3-D objects are recognized using correlation by use of the transformed complex amplitude.     

Dislocations engineering in melt textured oxide superconductors

Several thermomechanical treatments have been used in order to create specific microstructures of dislocations in melt textured grown (MTG) YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 m i /Y 2 BaCuO 5 ceramic superconductors. To by-pass the extreme brittleness of those materials, suitable techniques have to be used in order to increase substantially the dislocation density, in the orthorhombic phase, without promoting crack nucleation. The main features of microstructures obtained using e cold isostatic pressing f , high oxygen pressure anneals and plastic deformation under confining pressure are presented. The effects of applied stresses and phase instability on dislocation configurations are discussed together with the dislocation interactions with mirror twin boundaries. Consequences of those microstructures on the physical properties are also addressed with reference to the signature of each type of the defects.     

3-D microstructuring inside photosensitive glass by femtosecond laser excitation

We show that a femtosecond laser enables us to produce true three-dimensional (3-D) microstructures embedded in a photosensitive glass, which has superior properties of transparency, hardness and chemical and thermal resistances. The photosensitivity arises from the cerium in the glass. After exposure to a focused laser beam, latent images are written. Modified regions are developed by a post-baking process and then preferentially etched away in a 10% dilute solution of hydrofluoric acid at room temperature. We have measured the critical dose for modification of the photosensitive glass, and fabricated 3-D microstructures with microcells and hollow microchannels embedded in the glass based on the critical dose. Received: 12 August 2002 / Accepted: 13 August 2002 / Published online: 4 December 2002 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-48/468-4682, E-mail: mmasudaw@postman.riken.go.jp     

Ultrafast Time-to-Two-Dimensional-Space Conversion System Using SHG Crystal

We propose an ultrafast optical time-to-two-dimensional (2-D) space conversion system using a crystal of β-BaB₂O₄. The proposed system can optically retrieve a 2-D spatial distribution (an image signal) from an ultra-short laser pulse modulated by an image. The fundamentals are the time-to-space transform and the spatial time-frequency transform. Optical time gating using a nonlinear optical crystal is applied for the time-to-space transform. The experimental system can convert modulated temporal signals into 2-D spatial distribution at the bit rate of 8 Tbit/s.     

Microrheology of biopolymer-membrane complexes

We create tailored microstructures, consisting of complexes of lipid membranes with self-assembled biopolymer shells, to study the fundamental properties and interactions of these basic components of living cells. We measure the mechanical response of these artificial structures at the micrometer scale, using optical tweezers and single-particle tracking. These systems exhibit rich dynamics that illustrate the viscoelastic character of the quasi-two-dimensional biopolymer network. We present a theoretical model relating the rheological properties of these membranes to the observed dynamics.     

Optical Information Processing by Synthesis of the Coherence Function–Selective Masking of 2-D Information by Synthesis of Notch-Shaped Coherence Function–

We have proposed an optical information processing system adopting synthesis of the optical coherence function by using direct frequency-modulation of a laser diode.1’ Optical coherence function having notch shape is discussed theoretically and experimentally. Applying the notch shaped coherence function to this system, to mask selectively a two-dimensional (2-D) information from a three-dimensional (3-D) object can be carried out. After showing the experimental results on selective masking, the performance deterioration factors are discussed in detail.     

Design of a Hybrid Fiber-Optic Network Using 3-D Optical Code Sequences

We present the design of a 3-dimensional (3-D) noncoherent optical hybrid network. We also report the design of a new family of 3-D codes for fiber optic hybrid networks. We show that the hybrid network allows for shorter bit times and a higher number of users, given a set chip rate, compared to previously conceived networks. These newly designed hybrid single-pulse-per-row (HSPR) codes have very low autocorrelation side-lobes and very small cross-correlation peaks. We compare the performance of our hybrid model using our codes with the Optical Orthogonal Codes (OOCs) and Temporal/Spatial (T/S) codes and show that the new network can support a greater number of users and higher data rates than those using OOCs and T/S codes.     

Design of a Hybrid Fiber-Optic Network Using 3-D Optical Code Sequences

We present the design of a 3-dimensional (3-D) noncoherent optical hybrid network. We also report the design of a new family of 3-D codes for fiber optic hybrid networks. We show that the hybrid network allows for shorter bit times and a higher number of users, given a set chip rate, compared to previously conceived networks. These newly designed hybrid single-pulse-per-row (HSPR) codes have very low autocorrelation side-lobes and very small cross-correlation peaks. We compare the performance of our hybrid model using our codes with the Optical Orthogonal Codes (OOCs) and Temporal/Spatial (T/S) codes and show that the new network can support a greater number of users and higher data rates than those using OOCs and T/S codes.     

On Solving Three-Dimensional Electrostatic Field Distribution by Multigrid Method

A highly efficient numerical algorithm using the multigrid method (MGM) is introduced to solve a three-dimensional (3-D)field distribution. Taking advantage of the restriction and prolongation in MGM computation, a more accurate field distribution can be acquired rapidly. According to the MGM algorithm, a 3-D program is accomplished, which can solve the field distributions in electron optical systems for various electrostatic lenses. The 3-D field distribution in an electrostatic concentric spherical model is tested with the MGM algorithm and with an algorithm based on the finite difference method (FDM). Comparing these two results in terms of computational efficiency and computational accuracy, it appears that MGM is superior to FDM, which is now used the most in field computations. This paper shows that the 3-D field computation using MGM greatly improves the computational efficiency of field distributions in electron optical systems and shortens the computational time.     

Precision measurement and compensation of optical stark shifts for an ion-trap quantum processor

Using optical Ramsey interferometry, we precisely measure the laser-induced ac-Stark shift on the S(1/2)-D(5/2) "quantum bit" transition near 729 nm in a single trapped 40Ca+ ion. We cancel this shift using an additional laser field. This technique is of particular importance for the implementation of quantum information processing with cold trapped ions. As a simple application we measure the atomic phase evolution during a n x 2 pi rotation of the quantum bit.     

The effect of second neighbour repulsion on fcc binary alloy phase diagrams: A Monte Carlo study

We report the results of the Monte Carlo simulation of the phase diagram of fcc binary alloys using a 3-D Ising model with nearest and next-nearest neighbour repulsive interactions. Calculations are carried out for a ratio of second- to first-neighbour interaction energies of 0.4. The resulting phase diagram contains three superstructures A₂B₂, A₂B and A₅B, each separated by a disordered fcc phase. There was no evidence for the formation of an A₃B phase. These results are in qualitative agreement with CVM results.     

Butterfly interconnection networks and their applications in Walsh-Hadamard transform-based information processing and optical computing

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