Extended focus depth for Gaussian beam using binary phase diffractive optical elements.

A novel method for obtaining precision measurements by using two binary diffractive optical elements is presented. The system provides visual feedback of the measurement without the use of electronics.

The design and fabrication of two binary phase diffractive optical elements are presented. We used iterative design procedures and performed numerical two-dimensional Fourier transforms in order to evaluate the reconstruction pattern. Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction patterns for the same intensity distribution are compared, using computer simulations. The elements were fabricated by configuring either thermally grown silicon dioxide on silicon substrate or aluminium layers. The experimental results are shown to be close to the results obtained by simulations.

Liquid crystal spatial light modulators are used in a wide range of modern problems in science and technology. These modulators are used to control the amplitude, phase, and direction of propagation of coherent optical radiation in optical information processing systems. However, the influence of the characteristics of the temporal dynamics of liquid crystal spatial light modulators on the performance of information optical systems, including diffractive neural networks, has not been sufficiently studied. The article presents the results of a study of the temporal dynamics of phase modulation of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator SLM-200 (Santec, Japan). Computer-synthesized binary phase diffractive optical elements were used in the experiments, and the characteristics of the temporal dynamics of the optical modulator were measured: 125 ms is the rise time of the diffraction efficiency when displaying diffractive optical elements on the screen; 61.9 ms is the decay time when switching frames. With these characteristics, it is possible to ensure the formation of a variable optical field at a frame display frequency of 2 Hz with an interference level of –17.1 dB. Increasing the frame display frequency leads to the appearance of unavoidable interframe interference, which in turn limits the effective performance of the information system. The results obtained can be useful in designing high-performance optical information processing systems and diffraction neural networks

Near-field shaping with two binary diffractive optical elements in tandem

Holography is a powerful method for achieving 3D images of objects. Extending this method to short wavelengths potentially offers significantly higher resolution than visible light holography. However, current X-ray holography setups employ nanoscale pinholes to form the reference wave. This approach is relatively inefficient and limited to very small sample size. Here, we propose a new setup for X-ray holography based on a binary diffractive optical element (DOE), which forms at the same time the object illumination and the reference wave. This optic is located separately from the sample plane, which permits investigation of larger sample areas. Using an extended test sample, we demonstrate a resolution of 90 nm (half-pitch) at an undulator beamline at BESSY II. The new holography setup can be directly transferred to free electron laser sources enabling time-resolved nanoscale imaging for ultra-fast processes.

Binary diffractive optics have been extensively studied to date as tools for arbitrary laser beam shaping and experimentally implemented with etched transparent optics and spatial light modulators. Here we demonstrate that a simple one-step binary optic is able to enhance the intensity of a focused beam, displaying some counterintuitive focusing anomalies. We explain these effects by considering the optical aberrations in binary diffractive optics and outline how this may be exploited for further improvements in refractive/diffractive combinations for super-resolution microscopy.

Binary optical elements are finding increased use in a wide range of applications. Fabrication of binary optical elements generally remains a time consuming and expensive process. Even in high volume, costs can be prohibitive, especially for elements larger than a few millimeters in diameter. Replications techniques, such as injection molding, have recently begun to show promise as a means of manufacturing binary optical elements, and doing so at a significant cost reduction over conventional photolithographic means. We report on recent improvements in the application of injection molding techniques to the replication of binary optical elements. Several examples of binary elements fabricated by these techniques, as well as present process capability, will be discussed.

This work proposes a lens topology based on the addition of combined high-order aberrations to its posterior surface to achieve an extended depth of focus. The added terms are vertical and horizontal coma and spherical aberration, described by Zernike polynomials. We compare the herein proposed IOL with three classes of IOLs available on the market: monofocal, multifocal and extended depth of focus (EDoF). The proposed lens showed better results off the image plane, confirming the increase in the depth of focus when compared with the monofocal IOL. This is clearly observed with the extended Through-Focus-MTF maps that allow the evaluation of several spatial frequencies at different image planes. The fabricated prototype has similar performance to the Tecnis Symfony, a commercial lens with extended depth of focus. And when the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) is compared to multifocal lenses, a niche where lenses with extended depth of focus can be possible substitutes, the performance of the herein proposed lens was higher in every case considered.

Recording of binary volumetric diffractive optical elements within a 13 μm thick photosensitive chalcogenide layer using an innovative exposure set-up based on digital micro-mirrors devices is demonstrated. Different examples of beam transformations are shown such as the conversion of Gaussian beam into higher order modes or top-hat beam shapers.

The depth of focus extension in optical imaging is of considerable interest. In this paper, a laser frequency-shifted feedback scanning imaging configuration is demonstrated whose depth of focus is greatly extended through numerical filtering. The transmission characteristics of the system are studied. The original image is acquired through a two-dimensional scanning point by point with the target placed on a defocused plane. Filtered in the frequency domain, images on any oriented plane can be refocused. The superior performances are presented by imaging a three-dimensional target, and the process of gradual refocusing is demonstrated. To obtain the maximum extension in the depth of defocus, a series of numerical experiments has been carried out, which reveals its depth of focus is capable of being extended to four times the length of the objective focus length. The fabulous performances can motivate three-dimensional surface profile measurement.

카메라로부터 획득한 여러 장의 영상에서 3차원 정보를 얻어내기 위한 Extended Depth of Focus(EDF) 알고리듬은 최근 많은 연구가 이루어지고 있다. 피사물체의 깊이정보에 따른 제한된 초점으로 인해 초점이 일부분 맞는 여러 장의 이미지를 가지고 EDF알고리듬은 각 영상들의 focus 영역에서 하나의 focused 영상과 depth영상을 취득한다. 대부분의 영상처리 알고리듬이 그렇듯, EDF 알고리듬에 사용되는 파라메타들의 초기설정에 따라 결과에 큰 영향을 준다. 본 논문에서는 EDF알고리듬을 적용하기 전 입력영상의 기반으로 pyramid, wavelet transform, complex wavelet transform을 사용하였으며 EDF알고리즘에서 사용되는 파라메타들의 설정에 따른 각 알고리즘의 성능을 분석하였다. 본 논문에서 제시한 파라메타들은 입력영상의 크기에 따른 down sampling의 단계, 영상의 기반 알고리듬의 영상 복원에 사용되는 최하위 레벨의 이미지에 대한 취득 형태, 연산에 쓰이는 window size의 크기이다. 우리는 실험을 통해 제시한 입력영상에 따라 각 파라메타들이 미치는 영향에 대해 분석하였고, 기존에 사용되었던 일반적인 파라메타 선정방식보다 최적화된 파라메타 선정방식을 통해 얻어진 결과영상이 3dB ~ 19dB정도 개선된 것을 확인하였다. Extended Depth of Focus (EDF) algorithms for extracting three-dimensional (3D) information from a set of optical image slices are studied by many researches recently. Due to the limited depth of focus of the microscope, only a small portion of the image slices are in focus. Most of the EDF algorithms try to find the in-focus area to generate a single focused image and a 3D depth image. Inherent to most image processing algorithms, the EDF algorithms need parameters to be properly initialized to perform successfully. In this paper, we select three popular transform-based EDF algorithms which are each based on pyramid, wavelet transform, and complex wavelet transform, and study the performance of the algorithms according to the initialization of its parameters. The parameters we considered consist of the number of levels used in the transform, the selection of the lowest level image, the window size used in high frequency filter, the noise reduction method, etc. Through extended simulation, we find a good relationship between the initialization of the parameters and the properties of both the texture and 3D ground truth images. Typically, we find that a proper initialization of the parameters improve the algorithm performance 3dB ~ 19dB over a default initialization in recovering the 3D information.

This work introduces three rectangular quasi-flat-top spots, which are provided by binary optical elements (BOEs) and utilized for the illumination in a microflow cytometer. The three spots contain, respectively, one, two, and three rectangles (R1, R2, and R3). To test the performance of this mechanism, a microflow cytometer is established by integrating the BOEs and a three-dimensional hydrodynamic focusing chip. Through the experiments of detecting fluorescence microbeads, the three spots present good fluorescence coefficients of variation in comparison with those derived from commercial instruments. Benefiting from a high spatial resolution, when using R1 spot, the micro flow cytometer can perform a throughput as high as 20 000 events per second (eps). Illuminated by R2 or R3 spot, one bead emits fluorescence twice or thrice, thus the velocity can be measured in real time. Besides, the R3 spot provides a long-time exposure, which is conducive to improving fluorescence intensity and the measurement stability. In brief, using the spots shaped and homogenized by BOEs for illumination can increase the performance and the functionality of a micro flow cytometer.

Binary and continuous phase-only surface relief diffractive optical elements can be fabricated on hybrid sol-gel glass based on a single-step microfabrication process. We report on the fabrication and characterization of an inorganic-organic hybrid SiO2/TiO2 sol-gel glass by UV light exposure. Preliminary results of binary and continuous surface relief structures fabricated on sol-gel glass with UV exposure using holographic technique and a high-energy-beam-sensitive (HEBS) glass mask are demonstrated. The effects of the fabrication parameters such as doping concentration, bake temperature, and UV light exposure time on the film characteristics (thickness and refractive index) are studied.

Using a laser light source in imaging devices provides a wide color gamut, high brightness, resolution, and efficiency. At the same time, it creates a speckle pattern that deteriorates the image quality. This paper is related to the application of the moving binary code diffractive optical element (DOE) for speckle suppression in a laser display. Analytical optimization of DOE parameters is made in this paper. The optimal DOE pitch is found analytically. Limitation of the DOE code length is shown, and the highest possible code length is estimated. Application of the compound Barker code for the DOE design is suggested. As an alternative, the M-sequence and minimum peak side-lobe codes are considered. The expected residual speckle contrast ratio after application of those codes is estimated for the number of codes. A comparison of the different codes is done, and recommendations for speckle suppression DOE design are provided.

Liquid crystal spatial light modulators for precise dynamic manipulation of coherent light fields, used in diffractive optoelectronic optical data processing systems, are considered. This paper presents the results of a study of the temporal dynamics of the HoloEye PLUTO-2 VIS-016 liquid crystal spatial light modulator for analysis of light fields rate modulation. Experiments using binary phase computer generated holograms and binary focusing phase diffractive optical elements were conducted. Based on experimental data, the time characteristics of the modulator response were determined. It was found that when the rise time of the diffraction efficiency was 146 ms after the hologram displaying onto the SLM, and when switching to a new hologram, the decay time was 97 ms. These results allowed the dynamic generation of an alternating holograms at a refresh rate of 2 Hz with an interference level of –16 dB. Increasing the frequency of fringe pattern updates increases the level of interframe noise in the generated holograms, and when updated at the specification frequency, the generated distributions cannot be separated. Determining the actual frame rate based on the rise and decay times of the diffraction efficiency makes it possible to correctly calculate the minimum operating time of an information optical system containing a liquid crystal spatial light modulator.