Measurement of subpicosecond optical waveforms using a resonator-based phase modulator

We propose a method for the measurement of periodic optical waveforms based on the use of an electrooptic phase modulator placed in an optical Fabry-Perot or ring resonator. Significant broadening of the modulation spectrum extends the recently developed method of periodic modulation for pulse characterization into femtosecond scales. We numerically demonstrate the characterization of a 300-fs optical pulse. We also present a technique based on the temporal fractional Talbot effect for restoration of the pulse phase profile. After fast linear processing, subpicosecond pulses will be observed on the screen of a real-time oscilloscope. This complete characterization of optical pulses is entirely linear and therefore highly sensitive and simple in implementation.     

Optical encoder based on Fractional-Talbot effect using two-dimensional phase grating

This work presents an optical encoder that uses a two-dimensional phase grating. Rather than using a four-windowed scanning grating, this design with a special two-dimensional phase index grating generates two sinusoidal signals that are mutually phase-shifted by 180°. Afterwards, two large-areas, specially structured index grating generates the four 90° electrically phase-shifted scanning signals. The special design of the two-dimensional phase index grating provides more accuracy of phase-shift by using the fact that the  + 1 and −1 diffraction orders are intrinsically phase-shifted from one another by 180°. The gap between the phase index grating and mail scale was increased to three quarters of Talbot distance. The tolerance of gap between the index and main grating is 0.1 mm. The tolerance of yaw motion is ± 0.25°.     

Feedback method of the noise suppression in wave-mixing amplifiers based on non-linear materials with photorefractive response in a reflection grating configuration

In the photorefractive wave-mixing system, fluctuation in the signal beam intensity of the photorefractive output with a reflection grating has been analyzed by employing pump feedback method. In this method, fluctuations of the photorefractive wave-mixing process not only induce the intensity fluctuation of the mixing waves but also induce phase fluctuation of the mixing waves. Thus, the phase of the pump and signal beams at the output surface fluctuates in time around a mean value. Using such a positive feedback method of a pump beams, the relative fluctuation in the photorefractive output signal beam intensity with respect to its mean intensity can be minimized significantly without reducing its mean intensity. The factors that control the fluctuation in the signal beam intensity, such as the phase fluctuation of the output pump beam, absorption strength of the material and the feedback reflectivity of the cavity mirrors, on the relative fluctuation of the output signal intensity in the photorefractive wave-mixing systems have been studied in detail. It has been found that the fluctuation of the output signal intensity relative to its mean intensity in the photorefractive wave-mixing system can be suppressed to larger extent by taking lower value of feedback reflectivity of the cavity mirrors which could exist at a higher value of absorption strength of the photorefractive materials.     

Depth sensing using coherence mapping

A method for depth sensing based on sensing the visibility associated with the coherence function of a laser source is presented. The setup is based on an electronic speckle pattern interferometric (ESPI) setup, where the object depth is encoded into the amplitude of the interference pattern without the need for depth scanning. After performing phase-shifting method, the object three-dimensional (3-D) shape is reconstructed by means as a range image from the visibility of the image set of interferograms and where each gray level represents a given object depth. Experimental results validate the proposed approach for reflective diffuse objects at different measurement distances.     

Dynamic maps in phase-conjugated optical resonators

In this article the dynamical behavior of a beam within a ring-phase-conjugated resonator is modeled using two-dimensional iterative maps. In particular and as an example it is explicitly shown how the difference equations of the Duffing map can be used to describe the dynamic behavior of what we call Duffing beams i.e. beams that behave according to the Duffing map. The matrix of a Duffing map generating device is found in terms of the Duffing parameters, the state variables and the resonator parameters. To our knowledge this is the first time that the mathematical characteristics of an optical device in an optical cavity are stated so that a Duffing map is obtained as the dynamics for the ray beams.     

Polarization phase-shifting Jamin shearing interferometer

The Jamin shearing interferometer is very useful in wavefront testing, especially for the low coherent light. Based on this interferometer, a polarization phase-shifting Jamin shearing interferometer is proposed to improve the performance. In the interferometer, two interference beams are linearly polarized and a polarization phase shifter is applied to realize the phase shifting. Different types of configurations of the interferometer are given. With phase-shifting interferograms, the precision of the interferometer can be improved. The interferometer is kept as an equal optical path system and its shearing amount remains changeable with simple structure and easy operation. In experiments, phase-shifting interferograms are obtained by rotating the analyzer. The usefulness of the interferometer is verified.     

Phase response of omnidirectional reflection one-dimensional photonic crystals and defect modes

In this paper, we investigate the phase properties of light reflected from one-dimensional omnidirectional reflection photonic crystal. We observe that the phase changes drastically at large incident angles. This asymmetrical phase change should be considered at oblique incidence, and various phase compensators and retarders can be designed by this nonlinear curved surface of phase shift. Furthermore, for the coupled defect 1D PC, the phase change depends mainly on the top of the sharp peak of the weak undulation within the rectangular defect band, because the top of the peak of the undulation is very sharp, i.e. large phase change look like within almost a single frequency. This drastic phase change can be used to design phase controllers.     

Design and application of phase photon sieve

The imaging principle of Fresnel zone plate and photon sieve were analyzed in this paper. The design and fabrication of phase photon sieve were discussed. The feasibility of using phase photon sieve to realize nano-lithography was analyzed, a novel lithography experiment system based on phase photon sieve was presented, which not only has higher resolution and image contrast than the Fresnel zone plate lithography but also have higher diffractive efficiency than the amplitude photon sieve lithography.     

Optical switch with low-phase transition temperature based on thin nanocrystalline VOx film

An optical switch is fabricated by using micromachining technology, which is based on thin nanocrystalline vanadium oxide (VO_x) film, and it consists of four layers: a silicon (Si) substrate layer, a VO_x layer, a Si₃N₄ buffer layer, and an aurum (Au) electrode layer. By applying a switching power supply to a pair of the Au electrodes, the optical switch is controlled to exhibit from an “on” state with semi-conducting phase to an “off” state with metallic phase. The optical switch performance is investigated, and testing results show that its extinction ratio is about 14 dB, its switching response time can achieve about 1.5 ms, and the power dissipation required for stimulating switching to work can be below about 15 mW at least, which is lower than the power dissipation of conventional optical switches based on microstructure thin vanadium dioxide (VO₂) films. This kind of optical switch is potential to be applied as optical switch for optical communication.     

Annihilation and creation of rotating waves by a local light pulse in a protoplasmic droplet of the Physarum plasmodium

Pattern dynamics plays a fundamental role in biological functions from cell to organ in living systems, and the appearance of rotating waves can lead to pathological situations. Basic dynamics of rotating waves of contraction-relaxation activity under local perturbation is studied in a newly developed protoplasmic droplet of the Physarum plasmodium. A light pulse is applied by irradiating circularly a quarter of the droplet showing a single rotating wave. The oscillation pattern changes abruptly only when the irradiation is applied at a part of the droplet near the maximal contraction. The abrupt changes are as follows: the rotating wave disappears or is displaced when the irradiation area is very close to the center of the rotating wave, while new rotating waves are created when the irradiation area is far from the center of the rotating wave. These results support the hypothesis that the phase response curve has a discontinuous change (type 0 resetting) from delay to advance around the maximal contraction. The significance of the results is discussed in relation to “vulnerability” in excitable media and biological systems in general.